Mathematical Modelling for Community Based Intervention for Managing Diabetes: A Systematic Literature Review.

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) poses a significant global health and economic challenge. Effective diabetes management requires a multifaceted approach that combines clinical and community-based interventions. Community-based interventions are critical to address the growing burden of diabetes. Despite numerous independent studies on community-based interventions for T2DM management and mathematical models, there has been no comprehensive review integrating these two domains. This systematic literature review aimed to fill this gap by examining mathematical modelling in the context of community-based interventions for T2DM management. Following the PRISMA guidelines, relevant articles were identified, screened, and assessed for eligibility using the Scopus, ScienceDirect, and PubMed databases. The inclusion criterion was English-language research articles published between 2014 and 2024 that focused on T2DM interventions using mathematical models. Seven articles met the final inclusion criteria and were analysed to answer research questions related to the geographical origin of the data, nature of the intervention, specific mathematical model used, and the main findings of the primary study. This review highlights that mathematical models are critical for optimising community-based interventions, by identifying key risk factors, predicting disease progression, and evaluating the effectiveness of various treatments. By synthesising findings from different geographical and economic contexts, this review highlights the importance of culturally and contextually relevant strategies for diabetes management. The integration of robust mathematical models with community-based approaches promises to develop more effective evidence-based strategies for diabetes management, particularly in resource-limited settings.