Diabetic neuropathy in Saudi Arabia: a comprehensive review for further actions
Mohammad Aljohani, Amjad Karam, Ayman Alamri, Mohammed Manfaloti, Hussain Alnakhli, Hatem Shaqroon
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus prevalence is rising worldwide. Long-term microvascular and macrovascular complications are responsible for the huge morbidity and mortality caused by this disease; they burden patients and healthcare systems. The most reported complication is diabetic neuropathy. It is linked to a long duration of diabetes and poor glycemic control, resulting in significant pain and distress. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is the largest country in the Middle East that occupies approximately four-fifths of the Arabian Peninsula, supporting more than 33.3 million people. Around one-fourth of the people above the age of 30 years have diabetes. This review discusses the following on diabetic neuropathy in KSA: prevalence, risk factors, testing, management, awareness, and quality of life of neuropathic patients from the recently published studies conducted on the Saudi diabetic population.