Diabetes Surge Linked to Processed Meat, Refined Carbs, Study Finds

A new study found that the rise in diabetes cases is linked to the consumption of processed meat or refined carbs
The development of the health condition was also linked to insufficient whole grains or non-starchy vegetables
The situation suggests a growing burden on individuals, families, and healthcare systems

A new study published in Nature Medicine found that roughly 14 million cases of type 2 diabetes are linked to processed meat or refined carbs.

The researchers discovered that the development of the health condition was affected by a poor diet that stems from consuming too much-refined rice, wheat, or processed meat. An additional type of food linked to diabetes, although not as much, was the overconsumption of fruit juice.

Rise in Type Diabetes Cases Worldwide

Type 2 diabetes is known to occur when a person's pancreas is incapable of producing enough insulin, which results in the stifling of the human body's ability to regulate and use sugar as fuel. Health officials noted that over 37 million United States residents, about 10% of the population, have incurable diabetes, as per the New York Post.

Researchers from Tufts University who were part of the latest study analyzed the diets of 184 countries around the globe and used data from 1990 to 2018. The study revealed that over 70% of new diabetes diagnoses in 2018 were linked to unhealthy dietary patterns.

Out of all the countries that the team analyzed, every single one reported an increase in type 2 diabetes in the almost 30-year difference that the researchers reviewed. While there is currently no known cure for diabetes, health experts recommend lifestyle changes that could help manage the condition, including weight loss, regular exercise, and a better diet.

The team of researchers focused their study on 11 dietary factors and concluded that three significantly influenced the increased number of diabetes diagnoses. In a statement, the study's senior author, Dariush Mozaffarian, said that the results suggest that poor carbohydrate quality was the leading factor.

Overconsumption of Red and Processed Meat

The study also found that people overeating red and processed meats, including bacon, sausage, and salami, were key factors in developing their health condition. These were part of the primary causes for the roughly 14 million type 2 diabetes cases recorded in 2018, according to Yahoo Entertainment.

Mozaffarian, the editor-in-chief of the Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter, said that the study's results highlight the crucial areas that require national and global focus. Solutions need to be planned to address the issue of diabetes and reduce the devastating burdens of the condition.

The study's findings come as residents in Poland and Russia, areas where diets usually focus on potatoes and red and processed meat, as well as other nations in Eastern and Central Europe and Central Asia, were found to have the highest percentage of new type 2 diabetes linked to diet.

Other nations in Latin America, including Colombia, Mexico, and the Caribbean, were also found to have high numbers of new diabetes cases. According to CNN, researchers argued that the situation was caused by reliance on sugary drinks and processed meat and a low intake of whole grains in the areas.