Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke, and lower limb amputation. The number of people with diabetes has risen from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014; the global prevalence of diabetes among adults over 18 years of age has risen from 4.7% in 1980 to 8.5% in 2014 (Global Report on Diabetes, World Health Organization, Geneva, 2016). Diabetes is closely related to race, ethnicity, gender, age, personality, behavioural characteristics, residential areas, the economy, environment, and level of education. Type 2 diabetes is caused by a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors. Although genes that predispose an individual to diabetes are considered to be an essential factor in the development of the disease, activation of a genetic predisposition requires the presence of environmental and behavioural factors, particularly those associated with lifestyle. The most significant factors are overweight, abdominal obesity, and physical inactivity. Healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight, and avoiding tobacco use are possible ways to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Comprehensive treatment for diabetes includes medication, lifestyle management, blood glucose monitoring, education, and psychological care (International Diabetes Federation, 2012). These other four methods in addition to medication belong to the nondrug therapy category. Lifestyle intervention and nondrug therapy not only may improve people’s quality of life and reduce diabetes prevalence but may also reduce the financial burden of the government, families, and individuals, which is the focus of this special issue.

We invite authors to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that focus on the topics of diabetes prevention, early intervention, and nondrug treatment.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Diabetes prevention
• Diabetes early intervention
• Lifestyle and diabetes
• Diet, food, and diabetes
• Sports and diabetes
• Diabetes nondrug treatment