Study from Tufts University found suboptimal diet leads to type 2 diabetes in 184 countries
A new study by researchers from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA, on diet-attributable type 2 diabetes has shed light on two main types of food that is currently driving diabetes cases worldwide.
The study published in Nature Medicine journal found that in 2018 dietary factors led to incidence of diabetes which accounted for 70.3% of new cases globally.
Among 30 most populous countries, the proportional diet-attributable burden of T2D was the lowest in India and the highest in Colombia.
Excess refined rice and wheat; insufficient whole grains- top two dietary drivers of diabetes
Our findings suggest that excess refined rice and wheat and insufficient whole grains may be the top two dietary drivers of T2D globally, highlighting carbohydrate quality as an area for urgent attention, the study found highlighting how poor carbohydrate quality has increased diabetes burden in sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and North Africa and South Asia, the researchers have said.
The study found these 11 dietary factors
The study found that excess consumption of refined rice and wheat, processed meats, unprocessed red meat, sugar sweetened beverages, potatoes, and fruit juice contributed to 60% of the diabetes cases.
Insufficient intake of whole grains, yogurt, fruits, non-starchy vegetables, nuts and seeds was behind 39.2% of diabetes cases.
The 11 dietary factors listed by the study are:
Insufficient intake of whole grains
Excess intake of refined grains
Excess intake of processed meats
Excess intake of unprocessed red meat
Insufficient intake of yogurt
Excess intake of sugar sweetened beverages
Excess intake of potatoes
Insufficient intake of fruit
Insufficient intake of nuts and seeds
Insufficient intake of non-starchy vegetables
Excess intake of fruit juice
Simple carbs spike blood sugar level quickly
Simple carbohydrates like soda, beverages, baked goods and refined foods are digested quickly and absorbed more easily than the complex ones.
Those with diabetes are not recommended to have simple carbs and are instead suggested to include complex carbs in the diet.
"Whole, unprocessed, non-starchy vegetables. Non-starchy vegetables like lettuce, cucumbers, broccoli, tomatoes and green beans have a lot of fiber and very little carbohydrate, which results in a smaller impact on your blood sugar," the American Diabetes Association recommends.
What should be the ideal diet for those with diabetes?
The answer to this question may vary from person to person depending on the range of blood sugar level, the nature of the diabetes and other comorbidities.
But since the backbone of diabetes management lies in a good diet, the Diabetes Plate Method recommended by the American Diabetes Association can be followed, only after consulting your own physician.
It recommends filling half of the plate with non-starchy vegetables, filling one quarter of the plate with lean protein like chicken, turkey; filling one quarter of the plate with carbohydrate foods like whole grains and having water or a low calorie drink like unsweetened tea or coffee.
77 million people in India are having diabetes
As per the data released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), in India there are 77 million people suffering from type 2 diabetes.
The WHO data also says that 25 million people are prediabetic in the country currently which means they have a risk of developing diabetes in the near future.
"More than 50% of people are unaware of their diabetic status which leads to health complications if not detected and treated early," the WHO says and urges to check blood sugar level as unchecked diabetes increases the risk of life threatening diseases like heart attacks and stroke.
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