Evidence on the effectiveness and equity of population‑based policies to reduce the burden of type 2 diabetes: a narrative review – published online 02/12/2024

Joreintje D. Mackenbach, Josine M. Stuber, Joline W. J. Beulens

Diabetes prevention policies that require personal resources to benefit from them may inadvertently widen socioeconomic inequalities. In a narrative review in this issue, Mackenbach et al (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-024-06330-1), summarise the available evidence on the effectiveness and equity of low-agency, population-based policies aimed at reducing the burden of type 2 diabetes. Where evidence on the equity effects of these policies was available, the authors found that most of the low-agency, population-based policies that they identified are equitable. However, for many policies, evidence on equity effects is lacking. Mackenbach and colleagues conclude that future research should consider the type of evidence needed to demonstrate the real-world effectiveness and equity of population-based diabetes prevention policies. The figures from this review are available as a downloadable slideset.