The prevalence of diabetes and its complications, especially type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), is rapidly increasing and imposes a large economic burden globally. Some risk factors for T2DM or its complications, such as genetics and age, are not modifiable. Other factors, such as being overweight or obese, smoking, drinking, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, and high blood glucose, are modifiable. Identifying modifiable risk factors and intervening these factors through behavioural changes and clinical treatments is essential for the prevention and control of diabetes and its complications.

Although some risk factors have been linked to T2DM and its complications, different studies commonly report inconsistent conclusions. It is worth noting that the majority of published studies are based on a single measure of a risk factor, but do not take into account the within-person variation over time. Many studies have shown that these risk factors (body mass index, cigarette consumption, alcohol intake) vary over prolonged periods among adults. If the time-varying and cumulative average of dynamic factors over time are not taken into account, this could dilute the epidemiological associations. The data of dynamic factors can be obtained in longitudinal studies with a long follow-up and can better characterize the association of risk factors with diabetes and its complications. However, few studies have assessed the association between modified risk factors over time and subsequent risks of diabetes and its complications.

This Special Issue will focus on the research progress in screening dynamic risk factors with T2DM and its complications, and how these factors influence T2DM incidence and its complications over a long period of time. Epidemiology studies that stress longitudinal changes of modified risk factors associated with diabetes and its complications are welcomed. We encourage both original research and review articles.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Association of dynamic risk factors with type 2 diabetes and its complications based on regression with repeated measurements
• Association of dynamic risk factors with type 2 diabetes and its complications based on trajectory analysis
• Effect of changes in modified risk factors on diabetes and its complications in real-world studies
• Effects of interventions for risk factors on diabetes and its complications
• Interactions of modified risk factors in diabetes and its complications
• Models of personalized prediction and intervention of diabetes and its complications based on dynamic risk factors