POOR DIET = DIABETES!

 A new study by researchers from Tufts University in Boston has found that the majority of type 2 diabetes cases can be attributed to poor dietary choices. According to the study, poor diet was linked to approximately 70% of new type 2 diabetes diagnoses globally in 2018, which is equivalent to around 14 million cases. The research found that the biggest impact on type 2 diabetes came from insufficient intake of whole grains, too much refined rice and wheat, and overconsumption of processed meat.

The study, which analyzed data from 184 countries between 1990 and 2018, revealed that poor diet is causing a larger proportion of total type 2 diabetes cases in men, younger adults, and urban residents compared to their counterparts. The researchers also found that the highest number of type 2 diabetes cases linked to diet were in Central Asia, Central and Eastern Europe (especially in Poland and Russia), and Latin America and the Caribbean (especially in Colombia and Mexico). In these regions, diets are typically rich in red and processed meats, sugary drinks, and low in whole grains.

The study's co-author, Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, stated that poor carbohydrate quality is a leading driver of diet-related type 2 diabetes globally. He believes that the study's findings reveal critical areas that need to be addressed to improve nutrition and reduce the devastating impact of diabetes.

The research model developed by Tufts University highlights the impact of poor diet on type 2 diabetes and can help inform nutritional priorities for clinicians, policymakers, and private sector actors to encourage healthier dietary choices. The study results were published in the journal Nature Medicine and were supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.