Abstract

The prevalence and incidence of Type 2 diabetes have increased dramatically over the last two decades. Saudi Arabia has an estimated two million adults with diabetes, ranking seventh in the world and second in the Middle East.The global prevalence of schizophrenia is percent, with 40 percent of cases remaining untreated [1-15].In Saudi Arabia,the lifetime prevalence of psychological disorders is 34.2 percent. 4 Furthermore, the prevalence of schizophrenia is unknown.

There is a wealth of data indicating that patients with schizophrenia are at least twice as likely as the general population to develop Type 2 diabetes. 5,6 Furthermore, patients with schizophrenia have a higher risk of death, with a life expectancy 13-15 years lower than patients without schizophrenia.

While the exact causes of Type 2 diabetes in patients with schizophrenia are unknown, research suggests that it is a combination of genetics, atypical antipsychotic treatment, the long duration of schizophrenia, an unhealthy lifestyle,and high triglycerides Several studies have looked into undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes in patients with severe mental illness.