The New Ways of Preventing and Treating Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Strategies in midlife to prevent development of diabetes mellitus, mostly T2D mellitus (T2D), and its negative late sequela for health are of imminent importance for the individual as well as for societies and health systems. Healthy lifestyle and body-weight control in midlife play a crucial role in avoiding or postponing manifestation of T2D since lifestyle interventions appear more sustainable concerning their preventive potential in comparison to different pharmaceutical approaches which—up to now—loose efficacy after stopping and wash out and bear the risk of side-effects. Therefore, for the time being, no drug is licensed for diabetes prevention. Nonetheless, novel medicamentous attempts for diabetes prevention and supporting healthy aging are under scientific investigation. If T2D is diagnosed, adequate lifestyle modification and modern pharmaceutical strategies are required to safely control hyperglycemia in order to prevent severe acute and chronic complications, especially severe hypoglycemia and premature cardiovascular complications and death. Diabetes prevention has important implications for health policy.