Overconsumption of Certain Foods Linked to Rising Type 2 Diabetes Rates, Study Finds
Eating excessive amounts of refined wheat and rice products, while neglecting whole grains, is contributing to the global increase in type 2 diabetes, according to recent research analyzing data up to 2018.
The study highlights that poor carbohydrate quality is a major factor in diet-related type 2 diabetes worldwide, according to Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a nutrition professor at Tufts University. Additionally, high consumption of red and processed meats, such as bacon and sausage, is another significant contributor. These dietary habits were responsible for over 14 million new type 2 diabetes cases in 2018, as reported in the journal Nature Medicine.
The research suggests that 70% of type 2 diabetes cases globally in 2018 were linked to unhealthy eating patterns. Mozaffarian emphasized the importance of these findings for improving nutrition and reducing the diabetes burden worldwide.
The study, which analyzed dietary trends from 1990 to 2018 across 184 countries, found that poor diet led to 8.6 million more type 2 diabetes cases in 2018 compared to 1990. It revealed that excessive consumption of unhealthy foods was a stronger driver of diabetes than insufficient intake of healthy foods, particularly among men, younger adults, and urban populations.
Over 60% of global diet-related diabetes cases were attributed to six harmful dietary habits: high intake of refined rice, wheat, potatoes, processed and unprocessed red meats, sugary drinks, and fruit juice. Conversely, a lack of fruits, nonstarchy vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and yogurt accounted for just over 39% of new cases.
Countries in Eastern and Central Europe, Central Asia, and parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, such as Poland, Russia, Colombia, and Mexico, showed high rates of diet-related type 2 diabetes, often due to diets rich in potatoes, red and processed meats, sugary beverages, and low in whole grains.
The authors noted that their model provides estimates of risk rather than direct causation.