Association Between Risk for Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Prevention Among Faculty Members and Administrative Staff of a Saudi University

Background: Diabetes mellitus prevalence continues to rise globally, causing disability and decreased productivity among patients, a significant strain on healthcare systems, and a burden on national economies. In 2021, diabetes will affect approximately 537 million adults. The rising prevalence of prediabetes worldwide also poses a significant public health threat, as it is estimated that by 2030, more than 470 million individuals will be prediabetic. Objective: This study aimed to determine the association between the risk of prediabetes and the level of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) prevention among faculty members and administrative staff of a Saudi university. Methods: An analytic cross-sectional study design was utilized. The prediabetes risk of respondents was assessed using a risk test developed by the CDC, while the participants’ diabetes prevention practices were determined using a researcher-developed questionnaire. Data were collected from 360 selected faculty members and administrative staff of three randomly selected health colleges and three non-health colleges at King Faisal University, Hofuf, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, between September 25 and October 13, 2022. The collected data were subjected to estimation of proportion and logistic regression analyses using Epi Info(TM) version 7. Results: Nearly 40% of respondents (39.72%, 95% CI: 34.80, 44.86) were found to be at high risk for prediabetes. The majority of university faculty and administrative staff consistently practiced T2DM preventive measures related to the limitation of processed food consumption, smoking cessation, and regular checking of weight and the nutritional value of food. However, there was poor T2DM prevention practice in terms of exercise, consumption of sweetened beverages, and stress reduction. Those who had a high prediabetes risk were 1.17 times more likely to engage in T2DM prevention practices. However, they were found to be 19% less likely to perform T2DM prevention practices when sociodemographic variables were held constant. Conclusion: Prediabetes risk was prevalent among Saudi university faculty and administrative staff. T2DM prevention was not consistently practiced by those who had a high risk for prediabetes. High prediabetes risk was negatively associated with the level of T2DM prevention.