Evidence in Primary Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus—What It Means for Primary Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Epidemic in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes is in epidemic proportion in Papua New Guinea. Although many people are at high-risk of developing diabetes, there is no diabetes prevention policy and services in Papua New Guinea to address this problem. A literature search was carried out to assess the available evidence in the primary prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus among the population with pre-diabetes. The result shows that the primary preventative studies conducted on lifestyle modification and the use of metformin in prediabetes patients reduced overt type 2 diabetes mellitus. The application of the evidence in the prevention of the type 2 diabetes epidemic in Papua New Guinea, driven by a policy is feasible to address the diabetes epidemic.