- A healthy diet may lower blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in men, regardless of genetic predisposition, a new study finds..
- The study involved nearly 1,600 Finnish men who did not have type 2 diabetes, who completed dietary questionnaires and blood sugar tests.
- Experts say many of the societal and individual risks of type 2 diabetes can be prevented through lifestyle and dietary adjustments.
Following a healthy diet based on recommended nutrient levels may help prevent hyperglycemia and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, regardless of genetic predisposition, the study found. New Research In Finland.
The study, authored by researchers at the University of Eastern Finland, looked at data from the Metabolic Syndrome in Men (METSIM) cohort. After excluding METSIM participants with missing data, the analysis included nearly 1,600 Finnish men aged 51 to 85 who did not previously have type 2 diabetes.
Participants completed food frequency questionnaires and underwent a two-hour oral glucose tolerance test between 2016 and 2018. The study researchers identified 76 genetic variants associated with type 2 diabetes risk and assessed this data in conjunction with type 2 diabetes risk levels.
Two dietary patterns were identified: healthy and unhealthy. The healthy dietary pattern included vegetables, fruits, fish, poultry, whole grains, unsweetened and low-fat yogurt, and potatoes. The unhealthy dietary pattern was high in foods such as French fries, processed meats, baked goods and candy, refined grains, high-fat and sweetened dairy products, and prepared meals.
The researchers concluded that a healthy diet is associated with lower blood sugar levels and has the same positive effect on reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, regardless of genetic factors.
Today's Medical News He said Sevennem UnruislerGenetic engineer and chief longevity officer London Regeneration Institute Anne Lewisler, who was not involved in the study, said that while the study may lead to optimistic conclusions about the influence of diet on genetic predisposition to type 2 diabetes, there are limitations to the sample population.
“This suggests that if parents at high genetic risk maintain healthy eating habits and pass those habits on to their children, their children may have a lower risk of developing diabetes than their parents,” said Anne Ruizler, professor of nutrition and nutrition at the University of California, San Diego. “However, studies may be limited if they do not include diverse ethnicities, income levels, and geographic locations, as these factors may influence dietary habits and genetic risk.”
“Genetic predisposition to type 2 diabetes varies significantly across regions and ethnic groups, with certain populations, such as Asians and Africans, showing an increased genetic risk,” she explained. “These findings highlight the importance of personalized dietary advice and public health strategies to effectively reduce diabetes risk in different populations.”
– Sebnem Unruisler
Also, this study only included men, so it is unclear whether the findings also apply to women, which is important given the sex differences in the onset and progression of type 2 diabetes.
Melanie Murphy Richter, MS, RDN“There's a lot of evidence that it's safe to say that people who don't eat healthy foods are at increased risk of developing heart disease,” said the registered dietitian and director of communications for nutrition company Prolon, who was not involved in the study. Today's Medical News The findings support the idea that type 2 diabetes is often shaped by factors within society's control, such as diet, exercise and socioeconomic conditions.
“Promoting healthy lifestyles and addressing environmental factors has the potential to reduce diabetes risk and significantly improve public health outcomes. With regard to future generations, this study suggests that diet can effectively reduce diabetes risk, independent of genetic predisposition.”
“This means that developing healthy eating habits may improve the health of the next generation. For example, children who eat healthy foods may have a lower risk of diabetes compared to parents whose parents did not prioritize healthy eating.”
“Although genetic factors, including those that affect insulin production, may increase susceptibility to type 2 diabetes, the disease is highly modifiable, manageable and even reversible through dietary and lifestyle interventions. In particular, dietary and lifestyle choices can affect epigenetics, altering gene expression that is passed on to future generations,” Richter explained.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and can be managed with exercise, diet and medication. There are two types of risk factors: those that you can change and those that you can't. Commonly unchangeable risk factors include:
- Family history
- Race: African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders are all at higher risk for type 2 diabetes.
- Be 45 years of age or older
- A history of gestational diabetes mellitus that develops during pregnancy
- depression
- Giving birth to a baby that weighs more than 9 pounds
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Commonly modifiable or preventable risk factors include:
- A sedentary lifestyle with little or no exercise
- Hypertension
- Obesity or overweight
- Heart and blood vessel disease and stroke
- Low levels of “good” cholesterol or high-density lipoprotein (HDL)
- High levels of fats called triglycerides
- Unhealthy eating habits
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other risk factors that are considered modifiable may be genetic or the result of other health conditions that cannot be avoided. But experts say that making healthy dietary changes and managing modifiable risk factors can benefit everyone.
Richter said type 2 diabetes wasn't very common before the 1960s, but the mass production of processed foods has had a major impact on global diabetes rates.
“The prevalence of diabetes has skyrocketed as the Western diet, high in processed foods, refined carbohydrates and animal protein, has taken hold worldwide, leading to a widespread increase in obesity and diabetes. Factors such as family eating habits passed down through generations and socio-economic conditions that affect the availability of diabetogenic foods also play an important role in the development of diabetes,” says Richter. “Dietary patterns typical of many Western countries, high in refined sugars, processed foods and animal protein (high in saturated fats), are associated with higher rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Indeed, countries such as Mexico, China and India have seen an increase in the incidence of diabetes since they began adopting a Western diet.”
Richter added that the Finnish findings were not entirely surprising.
“Type 2 diabetes is primarily caused by dietary and lifestyle choices influenced by the widespread use of processed foods and the promotion and celebration of unhealthy habits. Despite this recognition, the medical community often perceives diabetes as a lifelong disease that requires medication. While medication is essential for some, many people can effectively improve or reverse the disease through dietary adjustments and lifestyle changes, often reducing or eliminating the need for medication over time,” said Richter. “Encouragingly, healthy habits can be passed down through generations, which shows that early nutrition education and government-led efforts to ensure all communities can access and afford nutritious foods are crucial. These efforts should be at the heart of research and health discussions about type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases that are influenced by dietary and lifestyle choices.”