Foods That Fuel Growth of New Cases of Type 2 Diabetes Worldwide

New cases of type 2 diabetes are surging worldwide as a result of exposure to refined carbs and red meats, a study reveals.

Three factors have become the predominant drivers of more than 14 million new cases of type 2 diabetes globally in 2018 - eating too few whole grains, eating too much refined wheat and rice products, and eating too much red and processed meats, such as bacon, salami, sausage and the like, according to a new research published Monday in Nature Medicine journal.

"Our study suggests poor carbohydrate quality is a leading driver of diet-attributable type 2 diabetes globally," senior author Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a professor of nutrition and medicine at Tufts University Tufts School of Medicine in Boston respectively, expressed in a statement.

Further, the new study discovered that 70 percent of type 2 diabetes cases worldwide in 2018 resulted from "poor food choice."

"These new findings reveal critical areas for national and global focus to improve nutrition and reduce devastating burdens of diabetes," stressed Mozaffarian.

Factors Causing Type 2 Diabetes

Mozaffarian and his team of researchers created a research model of dietary intake between the years 1990 and 2018, applying this to 184 countries. The study found that there were 8.6 million more type 2 diabetes cases caused by poor diet in 2018 compared to 1990.

More than 60 percent of the total global diet-attributable cases of type 2 diabetes were a result of "excess intake" of refined rice, wheat, and potatoes, processed and unprocessed red meats and sugar-sweetened beverages, and fruit juice, CNN reported.

Thirty-nine percent of the new cases were due to "inadequate intake of five protective dietary factors," namely fruits, non-starchy vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and yogurt.

Eating too much unhealthy foods leads more to acquire type 2 diabetes on a global level compared to the lack of wholesome foods intake. This is truer for men than women, younger people than older ones, and in the urban setting rather than rural residents.

Lifestyle and Meal Plan Changes

The highest number of individuals found to have the new type 2 diabetes were from Poland and Russia, two countries where people's diets focus more on potatoes and processed and red meats. The next countries on the list were Eastern and Central Europe and Central Asia.

High numbers of new cases were also found in Colombia, Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean, where reliance on sugary drinks and processed meats is high and whole grains intake is low.

According to Cleveland Clinic, type 2 diabetes is usually common in older adults, but cases involving children are increasing.

"If you have Type 2 diabetes, your body's cells can't properly take up sugar (glucose) from the foods you eat. If left untreated, Type 2 diabetes can cause such health problems as heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. You can manage this disease by making lifestyle changes, taking medications and/or insulin and seeing your provider for regular check-ins," Cleveland Clinic stated.

Further, it suggested that the meal plan should also change. Lean proteins, minimally processed carbohydrates, non-starchy vegetables, and foods with no added salts or sugars should be part of one's regular intake.