Overconsumption of Certain Foods Linked to Rising Type 2 Diabetes Rates, Research Indicates
Body: The surge in type 2 diabetes cases globally could be attributed to the excessive consumption of refined wheat and rice products, coupled with insufficient intake of whole grains, as revealed by recent research. The study also identified the overconsumption of red and processed meats, such as bacon, sausage, and salami, as another significant factor.
Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a nutrition professor at Tufts University and professor of medicine at Tufts School of Medicine, who is also the senior author of the study, stated that the findings suggest subpar carbohydrate quality is a major contributor to diet-related type 2 diabetes worldwide. The research pinpointed these dietary habits as the leading causes behind over 14 million new cases of type 2 diabetes in 2018. The study, which was published in the journal Nature Medicine, estimated that 70% of global type 2 diabetes cases in 2018 could be linked to poor dietary choices.
"Unveiling these new insights underscores the importance of national and global efforts to improve nutrition and alleviate the crippling burden of diabetes," said Mozaffarian, who also heads the Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter.
The research involved a dietary intake model from 1990 to 2018 applied to 184 countries. The findings revealed an additional 8.6 million cases of type 2 diabetes in 2018 compared to 1990, attributed to poor dietary habits.
The study further discovered that the global prevalence of type 2 diabetes was more significantly driven by the overconsumption of unhealthy foods than by insufficient intake of wholesome foods. This was especially notable among men versus women, younger adults versus older individuals, and urban dwellers compared to rural residents.
Over 60% of the total global diet-related diabetes cases were linked to six detrimental dietary practices: excessive intake of refined rice, wheat, and potatoes; overconsumption of processed and unprocessed red meats; and high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juice.
Conversely, less than 40% of new cases were associated with inadequate consumption of five beneficial dietary elements - fruits, non-starchy vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and yogurt.
The study found the highest prevalence of new diet-related type 2 diabetes cases in countries like Poland and Russia, and other nations in Eastern and Central Europe and Central Asia, where diets typically include potatoes and red and processed meats. Colombia, Mexico, and other Latin American and Caribbean nations also saw high numbers of new cases, possibly due to a dependence on sugary beverages and processed meats, and low consumption of whole grains.
The authors of the study clarified that their modeling approach does not establish causation, and their findings should be interpreted as risk estimates.