Study: Diet determines whether you get type 2 diabetes, especially in older women

For many years, doctors insisted that a diabetes diagnosis was nothing more than bad luck, an unfortunate genetic predisposition about which very little could be done. In some instances, patients were advised to lose a bit of weight, but for the most part they were prescribed chemical drugs to control the condition and sent on their way. Unfortunately, these chemical drugs can only stave off the devastating effects of diabetes for so long and cannot cure or reverse the condition.

Natural health advocates like Mike Adams, the Health Ranger and editor of Natural News, have been insisting for years, however, that Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is, in fact, a lifestyle disease triggered by being overweight, eating the wrong foods, and not doing enough exercise. And, as the years have passed, more and more studies have been published confirming this fact, causing an increasing number of mainstream medical practitioners to change their thinking and to try to educate their patients.

The latest study to emphasize just how preventable Type 2 diabetes really is, was conducted by researchers from the Chalmers University of Technology and Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg. Their research confirmed that biomarkers in the blood prove the strong link between certain foods and the future development of Type 2 diabetes.

Extensive study proves link between food and Type 2 diabetes

The results of the study, which included 600 female participants, were recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Blood samples were taken from the women at the start of the study when they were all 64, and then follow up tests were conducted five years later.

A press release by Chalmers explains:

The blood samples were analysed at Chalmers, where a unique metabolic fingerprint, including many different diet biomarkers, could be linked to each woman at the specific time the sample was taken. Using this method it was possible for the first time to objectively determine the impact of key dietary components on future type 2 diabetes risk, as well as to find differences in dietary patterns between women with and without type 2 diabetes.

The results confirm that diet is an extremely important factor in the future risk of developing T2D. The team found that fish, whole grains, vegetable oils and a high intake of vitamin E provided the most protection against developing the disease. Red meat and saturated fats, on the other hand, were linked to an increased risk of T2D.

“Collecting information about diet can be complicated and time consuming, and is always biased by what people remember and think they should report,” noted Associate Professor Alastair Ross, a senior researcher at Chalmers. “Dietary biomarkers don’t have this problem, and highlight that dietary recommendations to avoid red meat and saturated fat and increase intake of plant-based oils and whole grains do seem to hold true, at least in this group of women.

“The new method has allowed us to measure several markers of diet and nutrient status at the same time in a large number of people, which we believe is the first time this has been done,” he added.

Many mainstream health websites like Healthline now confirm that most, if not all, of the risk factors for T2D can be minimized or eliminated through simple lifestyle changes. And since 95 percent of all adults with diabetes have Type 2, that means that virtually all adult diabetes could be prevented through lifestyle and dietary changes. Close to 30 million Americans have been diagnosed with this disease, but experts believe that over 8 million more are simply not aware of their condition. (Related: Diabetes skyrockets 75% in just one decade … medical system clueless about answers.)

Anyone who takes steps to prevent Type 2 diabetes will also be reducing their risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease and many types of cancer. These steps include:

• Exercise consistently and regularly
• Cut out all sugar and processed foods
• Increase intake of fresh, organic, non-GMO fruits and veggies
• Maintain a healthy weight

Discover the latest breakthroughs in diabetes science at DiabetesScienceNews.com.

Sources include:

Chalmers.se

Academic.OUP.com

Healthline.com