Reducing the Burden of Diabetes Mellitus: Is It Achievable?

Diabetes mellitus is rapidly on the rise globally, particularly in low-and middle-income countries. Pakistan has emerged with the highest prevalence of diabetes by percentage according to recent estimates. Evidence is available for different strategies to reduce this burden. Screening high-risk individuals can reduce burden of undiagnosed diabetes and improve outcomes. Although prediabetes can progress to type 2 diabetes, it has the potential to regress to normoglycaemia as well. Interventions like lifestyle modifications and metformin in high-risk individuals can reduce the risk of progression to diabetes. Furthermore, there is a potential to reverse diabetes in some individuals in the early years after diagnosis with a low-calorie diet, carbohydrate restriction or bariatric surgery.