Q. Primary prevention of diabetes mellitus?

Approaches to Prevention: There are various approaches to prevention. Four levels of prevention related to different stages of a disease can be identified:

· First, Primordial Prevention refers to preventing the emergence of the risk factors in places where they have not yet appeared;

· Second, Primary Prevention refers to reduction or elimination of the risk factors in a population;

· Third, Secondary Prevention refers to the early identification and treatment of a disease, even before symptoms are apparent; and

· Fourth, Tertiary Prevention refers to treating the disease once it has developed so that it is less likely to result in permanent disability or death. Generally, there is strong argument for a primary prevention approach, with the aim of eliminating the risk factors in the population as a whole.