Diabetes DPG Public Library

Diabesity is a term used to define the coexistence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity, and is a major public health challenge currently. With its complexity of multiple different factors including insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress, leading to a large increase in both T2D and obesity, integrated strategies are necessary for prevention and treatment. Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) can be a flexible, tailored process that can provide individualized and evidence-based care to individuals. This review compiles the current evidence supporting personalized MNT combined with physical exercise as essential components for diabesity prevention or treatment.

Overall, MNT showed efficacy in improving glucose regulation, weight loss, and improvement in cardiometabolic risk factors. Effective strategies include the Mediterranean Diet for sustainable benefits, and more intensive strategies such as low-energy diets and ketogenic diets for rapid improvements. MNT interventions coupled with structured exercise programs with both aerobic exercise and resistance training, demonstrate even greater metabolic outcomes. Therefore, these lifestyle-based interventions are promising strategies for effective prevention or treatment of diabesity, with or without pharmacotherapies.