Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is an escalating public health issue, with increasing reliance on urgent care (UC) services for disease management. Differentiating utilization patterns between type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in UC settings is crucial for informing effective primary health care (PHC) strategies. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the demographic, clinical, and visit-related characteristics of individuals with diabetes attending UC at a PHC center, with specific attention to differences by diabetes type. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using electronic health records of all UC visits made by patients with diabetes at a PHC center affiliated with Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University. The study period spanned from July 1, 2023, to April 30, 2025. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to assess demographic profiles, clinical features, and utilization trends. Results: Out of 1,070 UC visits, 88.5% were by patients with T2D, who had a mean age of 55.99 years, whereas T1D patients had a mean age of 26.33 years. T1D was more prevalent in normal-weight individuals, while T2D was predominant among those with obesity. Most visits (83.36%) were for medication refills, particularly among T2D patients. T1D patients exhibited higher triage acuity levels, more frequent emergency department transfers, and a greater incidence of acute complications. Conclusion: The study identifies clear differences in UC utilization between diabetes types. An overreliance on UC for non-urgent needs, especially among T2D patients, underscores the necessity to enhance chronic disease management and triage protocols within PHC settings to optimize resource use and improve patient outcomes.

Key words: Diabetes Mellitus, Urgent Care, Primary Health Care, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes.