**1. Introduction**

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the main cause of disability and death among patients with diabetes mellitus, especially those with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). On average, CVD typically occurs 14.6 years earlier in patients with T2DM being characterized by greater severity than in individuals without diabetes mellitus [1, 2]. It is estimated that 90% of atherosclerotic CVD is preventable [3]. The dramatic increase of T2DM has developed into a major public health concern worldwide [4]. Several clinical studies have demonstrated that preventive strategies reduce significantly the risk of developing T2DM [4]. Understanding the mechanisms, strategies, and challenges as well as the potential cardiovascular risks and benefits of glucose-lowering diets are important in managing CVD in T2DM.

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