The number of Saudi diabetic patients is growing year after year at alarming proportions, threatening the Kingdom’s manpower, the main driving force for its development.

“One out of three Saudis is a diabetic patient,” said Dr. Abd Alaaty Abd Algawad Mustafa, an internist at Bugshan Hospital in Jeddah, quoting findings of the latest medical studies.

He emphasized the need for conducting awareness programs about diabetes throughout the year. “Observance of a diabetes week once in a year will not serve the purpose.”

Speaking to Arab News, Mustafa attributed change in lifestyle among Saudis and other Gulf citizens as the main reason for the increasing diabetes cases in the region.

“Most people in the Gulf, especially women, do not engage in physical exercise and eat fatty food. Use of modern electrical and electronic devices have reduced their chances of burning calories,” he pointed out.

Marriage in the same family or tribe with a history of diabetes is another main reason for the increasing number of diabetic cases in the Kingdom, he pointed out. Children of related couples are likely to become diabetic.

Mustafa said he had noticed that most Saudi diabetic patients come to him for treatment are obese as they exert little muscular effort. “We advise them to exercise and avoid fatty food and carbohydrates but they rarely follow our advice,” he said.

Physical exercise is one of the best means to control diabetes, as it helps reduce excess weight and strengthens the pancreas that produce insulin, he explained.

Delays in diagnosing the disease is another main reason for the spread of diabetes in Saudi Arabia as most people visit their doctor after the disease had reached an advanced stage.

“People above 30 should check their blood sugar level to find out whether they are diabetic. If detected early, diabetes is a manageable disease,” Mustafa said.

He said there are many reasons for diabetes being widespread among women and children. Marriage in families having a history of diabetes is one reason.

"Viral infections could damage beta cells responsible for producing insulin. This is another reason for children and youth to develop symptoms of diabetes.”

Mustafa said diabetes is spreading faster among Saudi women than men. “Diabetic patients consume most of the Health Ministry’s resources. The disease affects national manpower and the economy,” he said, stressing the need to take more measures to control the disease at an early stage.

Diabetes affects not only the life of the patient but also his/her family. It is known to induce depression and lethargy which in turn affects the quality of work produced.

“As of now, no cure for diabetes has been discovered. We hope researchers would soon find a cure for this silent killer. There are different medicines that can control the disease,” Mustafa said.

Diabetes is predominantly a lifelong chronic disease with high levels of sugar in the blood. A shortage of insulin produced by the pancreas is the main reason for diabetes. When food is broken down in the body, a sugar molecule called glucose enters the bloodstream.