Importance of Diet and Lifestyle in Type 2 Diabetes

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, the world has witnessed a dramatic rise in obesity, with its prevalence having tripled over the past 40 years. Today, more than 1.9 billion individuals are overweight and over 650 million are classified as obese. In parallel, type 2 diabetes has reached epidemic proportions, affecting over 500 million people globally, with numbers continuing to rise due to sedentary lifestyles, poor dietary habits, and increasing rates of obesity. The strong link between obesity and type 2 diabetes is well established, leading to the coining of the term “diabesity” to underscore their intertwined pathophysiology and shared global impact.

While the pharmacologic landscape of type 2 diabetes has evolved rapidly and remarkably—particularly with the advent of potent agents such as SGLT2-i, GLP-1 receptor agonists, and the dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist tirzepatide—lifestyle modification remains the cornerstone of diabetes management. Key strategies include weight reduction in cases of obesity, adoption of healthy dietary patterns that avoid Westernized diets, and regular physical activity. Additional lifestyle factors such as poor sleep quality and chronic stress also play a significant role in glycemic control.

This Special Issue explores the importance of diet and lifestyle in type 2 diabetes. We invite original research and review articles examining the impact of lifestyle interventions on diabetes outcomes in humans, as well as mechanistic studies in animal models that offer deeper insights into these relationships.

Dr. Eleni Rebelos
Dr. Angela Dardano
Guest Editors

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