Introduction:

The epidemic of diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, morbidity and mortality. Therefore, prevention, comprehensive treatment and assessment of associated complications and comorbidities are highly relevant.

Objective:

To present a review on DM2 and cardiovascular risk prevention based on a medical and nutritional approach.

Materials and methods:

A review was made in the Embase, PubMed, Bireme (LILACS, SciELO) and Cochrane Library databases using specific terms. The search was made in English and Spanish, looking for publications from 2001 to 2016.

Results:

811 publications were found and, after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 71 documents were selected: 24 research articles, 14 review articles, 18 clinical guidelines, 8 consensuses and 7 other categories (reports, book chapters, normativity and a book).

Conclusion:

Education is a fundamental tool to prevent and treat risk factors. Team work with patients and families should be encouraged to reduce the development of comorbidities associated with DM2.

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