RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) has introduced an advanced preventive therapy aimed at slowing the progression of type 1 diabetes, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The newly introduced therapy is intended for adults and children aged eight years and above who have been diagnosed at stage two of the disease, marking the first time such a treatment has been implemented in the Kingdom.
The therapy focuses on the pre–type 1 diabetes stage, addressing the condition as a chronic autoimmune disease in which the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas are progressively destroyed.
Early intervention is crucial to slow this deterioration, delay the appearance of clinical symptoms, and provide eligible patients with a longer period before the disease fully develops.
The initial application involved two patients who fulfilled all the criteria outlined in the approved protocol.
Both patients received treatment at the hospital’s Department of Pediatrics, offering renewed hope to families already managing type 1 diabetes.
Siblings of affected children are often at higher risk due to shared genetic and immune factors, and preventive therapies like this could play a vital role in reducing those risks.
The implementation of the therapy required meticulous preparation. The drug was compounded in the hospital pharmacy following a precise protocol, while nursing teams underwent specialised training in administration, monitoring, and managing potential reactions.
Medical staff were also briefed on patient selection and follow-up criteria in accordance with the latest clinical guidelines.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), experts anticipate that the programme will inspire national research on the early stages of type 1 diabetes and the development of preventive strategies aimed at improving the quality of life for at-risk groups.
King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC) continues to earn global recognition. It was ranked first in the Middle East and Africa and 15th worldwide among the top 250 academic medical centers for 2025.
