The prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus is increasing rapidly worldwide, primarily because of increases in obesity and decreases in physical activity. Type 2 diabetes Is one of the leading problems for the health-care system. In South Korea type 2 diabetes affects approximately 7∼8% of adults. Some risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus such as overweight, nutritional imbalance, and a sedentary lifestyle are reversible. To prevent type 2 diabetes two approaches are usually adopted. One Is population strategy that is aimed at preventing obesity, and the other is high-risk strategy to prevent and delay the development of type 2 diabetes in high risk groups. Prevention of type 2 diabetes is backed by many research evidences like Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study (Finnish DPS) and Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) of USA. In this article I discuss the results of Finnish DPS and DPP, and to propose the prevention strategy In South Korea.