Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine in Diabetes Mellitus: Insights from Prof. Catherine Dziri at ISPRM25

At the 19th ISPRM World Congress in Marrakesh, Prof. Catherine Dziri (Tunisia) delivered a highly relevant keynote on “Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine in Diabetes Mellitus”, highlighting the growing global burden of diabetes and the essential role of PRM physicians in its prevention and management.

Diabetes mellitus is rising rapidly worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where early detection is often missed and complications appear late. As Prof. Dziri emphasized, many individuals with type 2 diabetes “do not know that they have diabetes” — a challenge that places PRM physicians at the forefront of screening and early intervention.

Her lecture underlined the necessity for PRM involvement at all levels of care:

• Primary prevention and detection, identifying diabetes early when symptoms may still be silent.
• Secondary and tertiary prevention, addressing the multiple complications that impact functioning and quality of life.

These complications, she noted, are diverse and often disabling — ranging from neurological issues such as stroke, dementia, and peripheral neuropathy to musculoskeletal problems like tendinopathies, frozen shoulder, sarcopenia, and osteoporosis in older adults with diabetes .

Prof. Dziri also stressed the importance of clinical vigilance in rehabilitation programs, including awareness of silent ischemia during exercise prescriptions . Her message was clear: PRM physicians must take an active role in designing safe, effective, and progressive physical activity pathways for people living with diabetes.

A strong component of her keynote focused on exercise-based rehabilitation, emphasizing the need for structured physical activity, resistance training, and targeted programs that reduce sedentary behavior and promote long-term lifestyle change .

Her address served as a timely reminder that rehabilitation is central to diabetes care — not only for complications, but as a pillar of prevention, education, and empowerment. As diabetes continues to rise globally, Prof. Dziri’s message underscores the importance of integrating rehabilitation within every stage of the diabetes continuum to improve functioning and protect the lives of millions worldwide.