The Role of Lifestyle Interventions for the Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes: A Narrative Review

Abstract

The incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasing globally alongside poor diet quality, sedentary lifestyle, and obesity, outpacing the capacity and resources to effectively prevent and manage its impact. The glycemic benefits of lifestyle modification to prevent T2D and its downstream comorbidities and mortality are supported by numerous epidemiologic studies and randomized trials. However, despite lifestyle modification being the standard of care practice both for prevention and treatment of T2D, there has been limited success in curbing this pandemic, possibly due to environmental and socioeconomic barriers to the uptake and long-term adherence to healthy lifestyle programs. Therefore, mitigating the incidence and downstream health effects of T2D requires innovative clinical and population-based solutions for the implementation of sustainable lifestyle modification interventions. It is also important for public health stakeholders to address the numerous systemic and environmental barriers that persistently undermine the long-term success of adopting healthy diet and physical activity changes. Although interventions to improve diet, physical activity, and body weight are effective for preventing T2D and many of its downstream consequences, multi-pronged efforts to enhance the uptake of these programs and support long-term adherence are critically needed to reverse the current trends of this costly and debilitating chronic disease.