Diabetes has become a critical health issue in Latin America. From Mexico, in the north, to Argentina in the south, sweeping rural-urban migration and the worldwide nutrition transition to high-fat, low-nutrient processed foods – especially among poor people – are driving a potentially devastating explosion in the numbers of people affected by non-communicable disease (NCD). The diabetes population, estimated at around 16 million people, is set to double within a decade if effective steps are not taken in protect at-risk communities. The authors describe the objectives, activities and achievements to date of a growing network throughout Latin America that aims to translate robust findings on chronic disease prevention into real-world initiatives to reduce risk factors for diabetes and NCDs in the community.