Lifestyle Modification for the Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review

Abstract

ABSTRACT\r\nType 2 diabetes mellitus is a growing public health problem strongly associated with modifiable lifestyle risk factors such as unhealthy dietary habits, physical inactivity, overweight, obesity, sedentary behaviour and poor long-term weight management. Since lifestyle-related risk factors play a major role in the development of type 2 diabetes, lifestyle modification has become an important preventive strategy, particularly among adults with prediabetes or high cardiometabolic risk. This systematic review aimed to examine recent evidence on the role of lifestyle modification in the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus.\r\nA structured literature search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, World Health Organization resources, International Diabetes Federation reports and American Diabetes Association guidelines. The review included studies published between 2016 and 2026. Randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, clinical guidelines and community-based intervention studies were considered. Studies were included if they focused on lifestyle-based prevention of type 2 diabetes through dietary modification, physical activity, weight reduction, behavioural counselling, digital health intervention, community education or combined lifestyle programmes. Studies published before 2016, studies focused only on pharmacological treatment, and studies involving only diagnosed diabetic patients were excluded.\r\nThe reviewed literature showed that structured lifestyle modification is effective in reducing the risk of progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes. Recent evidence indicates that lifestyle interventions combining dietary change, regular physical activity and behavioural support are more effective than general health advice alone. Weight reduction was identified as a major factor in improving insulin sensitivity and promoting regression from prediabetes to normoglycaemia (Jayedi et al., 2024). Community-based and digital lifestyle interventions also showed beneficial effects, although their success depends on adherence, follow-up, cultural suitability and participant engagement (Holm et al., 2024; Shirvani et al., 2021; Wang et al., 2025).\r\nThe review concludes that lifestyle modification is a safe, practical and cost-effective approach for preventing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Integrating structured lifestyle programmes into primary health care and community settings may help reduce the growing burden of diabetes. Future research should focus on long-term adherence, culturally appropriate interventions and implementation in low-resource settings.\r\n