The worldwide epidemic of Type 2 diabetes is a "public health humiliation," the editors of the esteemed medical journal The Lancet argue in this week's diabetes-themed issue.

The journal's lead editorial argues that Type 2 diabetes is largely rooted in reversible social and lifestyle factors that a medical approach alone is unlikely to solve.

"The fact that Type 2 diabetes, a largely preventable disorder, has reached epidemic proportion is a public health humiliation," the editorial says.

The issue includes studies, which will also be presented at this week's meeting of the American Diabetes Association in Orlando, Fla., that describe advances in drugs as well as a greater understanding of the disease and the control of blood glucose levels.

"But there is a glaring absence," the editorial argues, " no research on lifestyle interventions to prevent or reverse diabetes. In this respect, medicine might be winning the battle of glucose control but is losing the war against diabetes."

The journal calls for a collective approach to boost opportunities for physical exercise and reduce the abundance of calorie-rich foods.

Reducing the burden of diabetes requires a major change in diet and routine, the editorial argues. The authors praise First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign, which includes nutrition, activity and child health components.

The editorial also endorses the U.S. Department of Agriculture's new guidelines, which aim to shift Americans' eating habits toward plant-based diets.

Urban recreation that is readily accessible, affordable and includes safe areas for children is also a must, particularly in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, which are experiencing large migrations from rural areas to urban centres, the editors noted.