Risk Factors Associated with Diabetes Mellitus in a Saudi Community: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: According to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics almost seven million of the Saudi population are diabetic and three million are pre-diabetic. The risk of developing diabetes increases with some risk factors including family history, age, obesity and lack of physical activity. It is highly significant to allocate resources to quantify the prevalence of diabetes through preforming an assessment of the blood glucose level of the target population. Therefore, we designed this study to determine the association between certain demographic and clinical variables and random blood sugar among Saudi population. Methods: Cross-sectional design using survey was used to recruit subjects from business location in the capital city of Riyadh. A total of 144 subjects were recruited using Simple random sampling technique. Information gathered included age, gender, family history, history of gestational diabetes, hypertension, level of physical activity, body mass index (BMI) and results of random blood sugar (RBS). Results: The study provided information about the association between certain demographic and clinical variables and Random Blood Sugar among Saudi population. The age and physical activity were significantly associated with high blood sugar level. Also, females who were diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) demonstrated a high score of RBS and therefore are at high risk for type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Conclusion: In conclusion, this study revealed that there is a significant association between certain demographic and clinical variables and Random Blood Sugar among Saudi population. A prevention program at the level of the community should be initiated targeting those risk factor groups to prevent diabetes mellitus. Also, further studies to modify the risk factors are highly recommended to control and reduce the DM prevalence in Saudi Arabian population.