First country to turn around type 2 diabetes trend

“Our findings show that there is hope for countries around the world struggling with the human and economic costs of type 2 diabetes,” says Stefan Söderberg, Professor at the Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine at Umeå University.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes has increased steadily worldwide over the past several decades. Mauritius, an island nation in the Indian Ocean with a population of approximately 1.2 million, has, like many similar countries, experienced a dramatic rise in both obesity and type 2 diabetes since the 1980s. What makes Mauritius unique is that it has monitored this trend since 1987 using the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

“In many countries, tests are used that risk overlooking cases of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes in people who do not experience any symptoms. As a result, many studies are likely to underestimate the true prevalence,” says Stefan Söderberg.

Systematic efforts can reverse negative trends

The oral glucose tolerance test involves measuring blood glucose levels after a person has fasted for at least eight hours. The person then drinks a solution containing a specified amount of glucose, and blood glucose levels are measured again two hours later. Mauritius is the only country in the world to have systematically used this method to monitor and estimate the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. Researchers have now shown that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the country increased by 61% among men and 56% among women between 1987 and 2009. Between 2009 and 2021, however, prevalence declined by 11% among men and 16% among women.

“Mauritius has taken a systematic approach to preventing and treating type 2 diabetes through legislation, policy measures and collaboration with local communities. Previous experience has also shown that it is possible to reverse negative public health trends, as has been done, for example, in the case of cardiovascular disease,” says Stefan Söderberg.

About the study

Jaakko Tuomilehto, Sudhirsen Kowlessur, Paul Zimmet, Jaysing Heecharan, Noorjehan Joonas, Per Liv, Jonathan E Shaw, Dianna J Magliano, Stefan Söderberg. Trends in prevalence of type 2 diabetes and intermediate hyperglycaemia in Mauritius from 1987 to 2021 based on results from the oral glucose tolerance test: a repeated cross-sectional study. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 2026https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(26)00127-0