A recent study published in Nature Medicine on April 17, 2018 predicts that poor eating choices cause 7 out of every 10 cases of type 2 diabetes worldwide.
Poor nutrition contributed significantly to the development of approximately 14.1 million new instances of type 2 diabetes in 184 countries in 2018, accounting for more than 70% of all new diagnoses globally, according to data from Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.
The study, which is based on data from 1990 to 2018, provides important insights into the dietary components that contribute to the burden of type 2 diabetes by region. Three dietary factors—overconsumption of processed meat, overconsumption of refined rice and wheat, and underconsumption of whole grains—had a disproportionate impact on the rising global incidence of type 2 diabetes.
Lack of non-starchy vegetables, nuts, or seeds, as well as excessive fruit juice consumption, had little effect on the development of new cases of the condition. Between 1990 and 2018, type 2 diabetes cases increased in all 184 of the study’s participating countries, putting additional strain on individuals, families, and healthcare systems. Type 2 diabetes is distinguished by insulin resistance in the body’s cells.
The model developed by the study team was based on data from the Global Dietary Database, demographic data from many sources, estimates of the global incidence of type 2 diabetes, and information from multiple published publications on the effects of food choices on people with obesity and type 2 diabetes. According to the findings, men are more likely than women to get type 2 diabetes, as are younger people than older adults and people who live in cities against those who live in rural regions.
This study considerably contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the relationship between nutrition and chronic disease since it clearly links a poor diet to the 14 million cases of type 2 diabetes that occur worldwide. The findings indicate that in order to lower the global prevalence of type 2 diabetes, lawmakers, healthcare professionals, and individuals must prioritize healthy eating habits.
