Study identifies the underlying cause of 14 million cases of type 2 diabetes worldwide

A recent study published in the journal Nature Medicine found that an estimated 14 million cases of type 2 diabetes were caused by poor diet.

A diet lacking in whole grains, or containing a lot of rice, wheat and processed meat has been linked to the disease.

Those diets that included excessive consumption of fruit juice or insufficient amounts of non-starchy vegetables, nuts or seeds also had some effect on prognosis, but not to the same extent.

A press release noted that the rising incidence of type 2 diabetes represents "an increasing burden on individuals, families, and healthcare systems."

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin, which hinders the body's ability to regulate and use sugar as energy.

Researchers at Tufts University analyzed the diets of 184 countries around the world using data from 1990 and 2018, and revealed that more than 70 percent of new diagnoses in 2018 were caused by unhealthy dietary patterns.

Of the 184 countries surveyed, all reported a rise in type 2 diabetes in the nearly 30-year period.

There is no cure for diabetes, but there are a myriad of recommended lifestyle changes to help manage the condition, such as losing weight, exercising and eating well.

The research focused on 11 dietary factors, and concluded that three of them had a negative impact on the increase in diabetes diagnoses.

"Our study indicates that poor carbohydrate quality is a major driver of diet-attributable type 2 diabetes globally, with significant variation by country and over time," said Dariush Mozaffarian, lead author of the study.

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

The analysis also found that poor diets lead to a greater proportion of patients being diagnosed among men versus women, younger versus older, and urban versus rural population with chronic disease.

Central and Eastern Europeans and Central Asians were found to have the highest rates of diet-related type 2 diabetes.

"If left unchecked, and with its incidence expected to rise, type 2 diabetes will continue to affect population health, economic productivity, health care system capacity, and lead to health inequalities around the world," said study author Megan O'Hearn.

"These findings can help define nutritional priorities for clinicians, policymakers, and private sector actors as they encourage healthy food choices that respond to this global pandemic," she added.

A study reveals a diet that can reduce the risk of miscarriage!

A study found that eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can reduce the chances of miscarriage by up to 61%.

Women who ate a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, seafood, dairy products, eggs, and grains had a lower risk of miscarriage.

It turns out that women who eat a diet high in processed foods — such as many breakfast cereals, fast foods, and anything altered from their natural state — have double the risk.

Experts believe that anti-inflammatory foods and those rich in antioxidants - typically found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains - can help maintain a healthy pregnancy.

Meanwhile, those known to cause inflammation — such as red meat, processed foods and refined carbohydrates like white bread — increase the risk of miscarriage.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham analyzed 20 studies involving more than 60,000 women, which explored eating habits in the months leading up to and shortly after pregnancy.

The review found that compared to low consumption, higher intake of fruit was associated with a 61% lower risk of miscarriage.

The women who ate the most vegetables had a 41% lower risk of miscarriage, compared to the control group. As for dairy products, it represents a decrease of 37%, 33% for cereals, and 19% for seafood and eggs.

The researchers also looked at whether pre-specified dietary types, such as the Mediterranean diet or fertility diet, could also be linked to miscarriage risk. They were unable to find evidence that following any of these diets reduces or increases risk.

However, eating a whole diet that includes generally healthy foods, or foods rich in sources of antioxidants, and low in inflammatory foods or unhealthy food groups may be associated with a reduced risk of miscarriage in women.

And a diet high in processed foods has been linked to a double risk of miscarriage, according to findings from the Journal of Fertility and Sterility.

Lead author Dr Yilin Zhong said: “There is a growing body of evidence to show that lifestyle changes – including changes in diet, smoking cessation and not drinking alcohol – before conception and in the early stages of pregnancy – may have an effect. We encourage Couples strongly encourage couples to consider the importance of making positive lifestyle choices when planning a family, and for continuing to make these healthy choices throughout pregnancy and beyond.By knowing that positive lifestyle choices can make a huge difference in reducing the risk of miscarriage, couples can feel empowered Take responsibility for their health and the health of their children.

It can be argued that eating a healthy diet, taking supplements such as vitamin D and folic acid, exercising and trying to reduce stress are all things people can try to do, but there is a lack of clear evidence on links between diet choices and miscarriage.

Given this lack of evidence, there are no evidence-based guidelines outlining dietary advice for women, newborn babies or their partners - something the findings of this review suggest could have a real impact in helping people reduce their risk.