JAN-2021-0464
Dear Authors, thank you for this review of this topic.
The following is my edits and comments.
Title
The participants of this meta-analysis (people with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes) should be stated in the title.
Abstract
Please add the number of included studies in the Results.
Introduction
It may be much better to give some information about the number of adults with prediabetes.
It is much better to put sentences “Nurses paly a key role in ……..by individual behaviour and action” at the end of the second paragragh.
Background
In the Backgound section, the authors have provided information regarding the definition of goal setting and several reviews. However, limited information about the current studies on goal setting in prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, and this information is important. I suggest providing this information in the background. Further, I suggest providing strong rationale for this study, especially the importance of this review.
Design
In this section, the Joanna Briggs Institute approach for systematic review was reported to follow in this review, while in Figure 1 this study followed the PRISMA checklist; you also provided PRISMA checklist on Page 38-39.
Description of inclusion criteria according to PICOS may make these contents more organised.
Studies with several design were considered for inclusion (Page 4 Line 55-59). However, in the Abstract, only randomized controlled trials were considered for inclusion.
Data synthesis
How to identify the heterogeneity according to Chi-square tests, I2 statistics.
Results
Tell the number of studies included in this review.
Page 8 Line 3-5 please re-edit this sentence.
Page 9 Line 57-60 the 14 references were studies that reported ethnicity and may be appropriate after the sentence “The ethnicity of the …….in fourteen studies” in Line 55-56.
Page 8 Line 55-56 change “Maximum time to” to “Maximum time of”
Page 10 Line 12-13 please make sure it was “fasting plasma glucose levels at six months” or “change in fasting plasma glucose levels at six months”, because the following three sentences were all “change in ….” and in the next paragragh were reported in “an improvement in fasting plasma….”
Page 10 Line 32-33 Please make sure again that I2 with 59% indicated low heterogeneity. Just as I suggested in the Data synthesis, you should describe how to identify the heterogeneity according to Chi-square tests, I2 statistics.
Discussion
Page 11 Line 11-14 Please re-edit the first sentence.
The summary of the findings should be described in the first paragraph of this section.
Just as you said it is challenging to measure the independent effects of goal setting from other variables. Studies included in this review did not only specific in goal setting, for example, studies conducted by Jaipakdee (2015) examined the effect of diabetes self-management support (DSMS) on HbA1c level, health behavior, depression, and quality of life. In this study, the DSMS program comprised of two components: diabetic educational section to help patients understand the disease process and proper skill learning to manage their condition and change their lifestyle. Goal control in one of the components of this study. Therefore, I wonder if it is propriate to say this is the effect of goal setting on HbA1c level. In fact, it is the effect of DSMS program. Many included studies in your meta-analysis were included goal setting and other intervention methods, and whether the meta-anlysis will reflect the real effect of goal setting on glycaemic control.
The discussion was a bit simple. More critical discussion on the results of meta-analysis is needed.
Tables and Figures
They are 7 tables and 9 figures. I suggest combining some tables. Table 7 is the summary of results of the meta-analysis and the Figure 2-9 also reported the results of the meta-analysis. This is repeated.
Grammar
The manuscript would benefit from proof reading. There are some grammatical and expressive issues that can be edited.
For example:
Please pay attention to the syntax, for example:
Page 3 Line 54 remove “and” before “are seminal…”
Page 3 Line 17-18 change “has” to “had”
Page 5 line 22-23 remove “:” before “were used to…”
Page 5 Line 44-45 change “study selected” to “study selection”
Page 6 Line 11-12 change “health profession” to “health professionals”
Page 7 Line 46 add “and” before “one study included….”
I hope these comments are useful.

JAN-2021-0464R1
Thank you for this well revised manuscript. Most of my recommendations have been addressed. The following is my comments.

Abstract
Page 4 Line 16-19 the second sentence for the results in prediabetes should be re-edited. The “()” or “;” did not make the sentence clear.
Background
In the Backgound section, you said “Whilst no review of the impact of goal setting on prediabetes…., that glycaemic control can be improved”. I think it is not enough for readers to understand the current studies on goal setting in prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. For example, whether all studies including goal setting in prediabetes or type 2 diabetes showed effective in glycaemic control or not. I think the results of all studies may not be consistent. I think this information is important and it is also one of the important reasons for this review. I suggest providing this information in the background.
Design
Results
In the results section, the results of the risk of bias and the GRADE were not described. As shown in Table 1, only one study was graded as low, and most studies were moderate risk of bias. What are the main reasons for moderate risk of bias. I suggest providing this information.
Discussion
The second paragraph is so long and this is not conducive to reading. I suggest to divide this paragraph in to two or three parts according to the contents.
In addition, the results of quality appraisal should be discussed.
In limitation section, terms like First, second….Last can make the structure better.

Last，please carefully proof read the manuscript again.

I hope these comments are useful.
Best wishes.

Thank you for this well revised manuscript. My recommendations have been addressed.