Precision Medicine for Preventing Type 2 Diabetes: a Step Forward

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been rising rapidly with an increased burden to the healthcare system. As such T2D prevention is highly recommendable, and, theoretically, it can definitely be successful. However, though feasible T2D prevention is difficult to implement due to the heterogeneity of the disease that make response to population intervention (and treatment) only partially successful. Precision medicine aims to prevent chronic diseases by tailoring interventions or recommendations to a combination of a genetic background, metabolic profile, and lifestyle. Classification of individuals at risk into clusters that differ in their susceptibility to develop T2D may foster the identification of preventive interventions. Recent advances in omics technologies have offered opportunities as well as challenges in the use of precision medicine to prevent T2D. Moreover, new mobile health (mHealth) technologies have enhanced how diabetes is managed. However, little is still known about the effectiveness of mHealth technology as intervention tools for reducing diabetes risk.