2 Type Diabetes Case | Big disclosure in the report! ‘Poor diet’ linked to 14 million cases of type 2 diabetes worldwide

File Photo New Delhi: Poor diet was a major reason behind more than 14.14 million cases of type 2 diabetes in the world in 2018. Globally, these figures account for more than 70 percent of new cases. It is a matter of relief that India had the lowest number of type 2 diabetes cases related to unhealthy diet. Among the 30 most populous countries studied, India, Nigeria and Ethiopia had the lowest incidence of type 2 diabetes linked to unhealthy diets, the researchers said. The analysis, published in the journal Nature Medicine, looked at data from 1990 and 2018 to identify which dietary factors are driving the burden of type 2 diabetes globally. The researchers found that of the 11 dietary factors considered, three were major contributors to the rising global incidence of type 2 diabetes. These included insufficient intake of whole grains, an excess of refined rice, wheat, and a high intake of processed meat. Factors such as drinking too much fruit juice and not eating enough non-starchy vegetables and dried fruits were seen to have little effect on new cases of the disease, they said. Senior author Dariush Mozaffarian from Tufts University in the US said, “Our study suggests that a diet with poor carbohydrate quality is a major factor in type 2 diabetes globally. These new findings bring to the fore important areas for improving nutrition and reducing the burden of diabetes, both nationally and globally.” In type 2 diabetes, the body’s cells become resistant to insulin. Read also Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that controls the amount of glucose in the bloodstream at any given time. Of the 184 countries included in the study, all showed an increase in type 2 diabetes cases between 1990 and 2018, indicating an increasing burden on individuals, families and health care systems. The research team’s model was based on information from the Global Dietary Database, as well as data on demographics, estimates of global type 2 diabetes incidence, obesity, and how people with type 2 diabetes are affected. The analysis showed that poor diet is making up a greater proportion of total type 2 diabetes incidence globally in men versus women, young versus older adults and urban versus rural residents. Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia – particularly Poland and Russia, where diets are rich in red meat, processed meat and potatoes – had the largest number of diet-related type 2 diabetes cases, the researchers said. Latin America and the Caribbean also had a significant number of type 2 diabetes cases, especially in Colombia and Mexico, which were attributed to sugary drinks, high consumption of processed meat and low intake of whole grains. Regions where diet had less effect on incidence of type 2 diabetes included South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. However, the largest increase in type 2 diabetes between 1990 and 2018 due to poor diet was seen in sub-Saharan Africa. Meghan Ohern, first author of the study who conducted the research, said, “These findings may help guide nutrition priorities for physicians, policy makers and the private sector as they encourage healthy dietary choices that are effective during this global pandemic.” is the solution. (agency)