Changing the odds. What do we learn from prevention studies targeted at people with a positive family history of type 2 diabetes?

People with a positive family history of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) are at high risk of developing diabetes. We set out to review the literature reporting on the development and/or evaluation of lifestyle interventions specifically aimed at prevention of T2DM in this group. Targeting people with a positive family history of T2DM seems so far an underutilized prevention strategy. They can and should be approached with the aim to raise risk awareness and promote healthy eating, weight loss and physical activity, thereby reducing their risk of developing diabetes.