Application of new modifying models and lifestyle changes and its role in providing better treatment for diabetes mellitus
Diabetes is one of the main threats to human health in this century. The drastic increase in incidence of diabetes worldwide has been attributed to distinct changes in human behaviour and lifestyle during the last century. To prevent the personal and socio-economic burden of diabetes effort to prevent the disease needs to start before the onset of diabetes and address all susceptibility factors. Four recent studies have shown that prevention of type 2, diabetes is possible and that reinforced lifestyle interventions or modification can significantly reduce the onset of the disease. The studies repeatedly showed that for about 60% of the persons with increased diabetes risk, compared to a control group, the diabetes was prevented from developing. Early pharmacologic preventive strategies have yielded 25-30%. These studies have convincingly demonstrated that the primary aim in prevention of type 2 diabetes is the stabilization of glucose tolerance due to improvement of insulin resistance. Based on the studies intervention protocol focuses on achieving 5 core goals. With respect to the world wide burden of diabetes this studies offer a compelling evidence base for the important translation of the research findings into community-based prevention strategies a development of a National diabetes prevention program. The workgroup “diabetes prevention” at the German diabetes association together with the diabetes foundation developed a concept for a National program. To realize this, a large number of partners are necessary. For the population based implementation of such a program the intervention is primarily based on reinforced behaviour modification (lifestyle and physical activity). As add on the pharmaco prevention of type 2 diabetes will be from increasing importance.