eng Enviro Research Publishers Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science Journal 2347-467X 2322-0007 2025-08-25 13 2 715 732 10.12944/CRNFSJ.13.2.12 23972 article Nahla Mohammed Bawazeer 1 Sumia Mohammed Enani 2 Albandari Abdullah Bin Ammar 3 Howeida Hassan Abusalih 1 Amal Hamdi Kenanah 4 Alaa Jameel Almiman 5 Department of Health Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Faculty of Human Sciences and Design, Department of Food and Nutrition, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Department of Clinical Nutrition, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Ha’il, Ha’il, Saudi Arabia. General Studies Department, College of Humanities and Sciences, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Community Health Science Department, College of Applied Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Clinical Nutrition Department, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Type 2 diabetes is an escalating concern among youth. This research aimed to evaluate university students' knowledge about diabetes, their health-related practices, and perceived risks of developing the disease in Saudi Arabia. An online cross-sectional survey was carried out between February 2021 and December 2022, targeting students from all academic levels. Sociodemographic data, diabetes history, and lifestyle factors were collected using a validated questionnaire assessing diabetes knowledge, practices, and perceived risk. Among 1,312 participants, 66% were female, 42% were in their first year, and 60% had a family history of diabetes. Dietary knowledge received the lowest scores, and there were gaps in seeking information from healthcare professionals and following diabetes-related news. Overall, 83% of students had low to moderate diabetes knowledge, 54% exhibited neutral health practices, and 44.6% perceived themselves as high risk of developing diabetes. Factors significantly associated with diabetes knowledge and practices included age, education, family history, and workshop participation (p < 0.05). Regression analysis revealed that education level and knowledge explained 10.3% of the variance in diabetes-related practices (p < 0.001). In conclusion, University students demonstrated low to moderate diabetes knowledge and neutral health practices, particularly regarding diet and information-seeking behaviors. Public education initiatives tailored for university students are critical to improving diabetes prevention behaviors and promoting healthy lifestyles. https://www.foodandnutritionjournal.org/volume13number2/diabetes-knowledge-practices-and-risk-perception-among-saudi-university-students-insights-from-a-cross-sectional-study/ Diabetes awareness Health behavior Preventive practices Risk factors Saudi Arabia Type 2 diabetes University students