A diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and low-fat dairy may help people lower their risk of type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is closely linked to obesity and it's known that maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise reduces the risk of developing the disease. To investigate the impact of diet on diabetes risk, researchers from America studied the dietary and lifestyle patterns of 5,011 men and women aged between 45 and 84 years over five years. It was found that people whose diets were highest in whole grains, fruits, nuts, low-fat dairy and vegetables, particularly leafy greens, were 15 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes over 5 years than those who ate the lowest amounts of these foods. In contrast, participants whose diets were high in red meat, high-fat dairy, refined grains like white bread, plus beans and tomatoes, saw their diabetes risk go up by 18 percent as a group. The above findings highlight the importance of whole diet, rather than focusing on certain foods or food groups that might be beneficial.
Diabetes Care
September 2008