Type 1 Diabetes Prevention Therapy Rolled Out By KFSHRC To Slow Disease Progression

King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre has introduced a preventive therapy that slows the progression of Type 1 Diabetes in adults and children from eight years old, who are identified at stage two of the disease, providing earlier clinical intervention before full symptoms appear.

The therapy was first given to two patients who fulfilled the approved protocol criteria, with treatment delivered through the pediatric department, representing an early step toward preventive care for one of the most common autoimmune conditions affecting children and adolescents worldwide.

Type 1 Diabetes is described as a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system gradually destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, so targeting the pre–Type 1 Diabetes stage aims to slow this destruction, delay clinical onset, and extend the period before patients develop full metabolic symptoms.

This development holds particular importance for households where one child already lives with Type 1 Diabetes, since shared immune and genetic factors increase the likelihood that siblings may also develop the condition, making preventive options crucial for families seeking to reduce future disease risk.

Before starting the new programme, the hospital carried out detailed preparation, including precise pharmacy compounding following a strict protocol, training nursing teams in drug administration and close monitoring, planning responses to potential side effects, and equipping medical staff with the latest scientific criteria for selecting eligible patients and arranging follow-up.

The preventive therapy programme is expected to support national research on the early stages of Type 1 Diabetes, encourage wider adoption of preventive strategies, and contribute to improving the long-term quality of life of individuals who face an increased risk of developing the disease in Saudi Arabia.

King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre is ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa and fifteenth worldwide among 250 academic medical centres for 2025, recognised by Brand Finance as the region’s most valuable healthcare brand and listed by Newsweek among the World’s Best Hospitals 2025, Best Smart Hospitals 2026, and Best Specialized Hospitals 2026.

These international rankings, combined with the launch of the preventive Type 1 Diabetes therapy for stage two patients, highlight the hospital’s role as a major reference centre for advanced care and research in Saudi Arabia, and signal growing attention to early detection and prevention of autoimmune disease among high-risk groups.

With inputs from SPA