Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Saudi Arabia: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Management Strategies: A Review

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major health problem and a leading cause of death in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks KSA as the seventh country with the highest diabetes prevalence in the world. The healthcare and treatment costs for diabetes have risen by more than 500% in the last two decades. Obesity is the main risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which involves insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction. Genetic and environmental factors also influence the development of T2DM. There are various options for controlling blood glucose in T2DM patients, including a new class of oral drugs called sodium-glucose transport protein 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i). These drugs reduce glucose reabsorption and increase glucose excretion in the kidney. They can be used at any stage of diabetes and have benefits such as lowering blood pressure, A1C levels, and body weight. Dapagliflozin is one of the SGLT2 inhibitors that T2DM patients well tolerate. This review examines the impact of T2DM in KSA, its risk factors and complications, and the role of Dapagliflozin in its management. It also provides expert opinions on the current situation of T2DM in KSA.