The kind of food one eats and even the order in which it is consumed can affect the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
In a study of 2,717 young adults in the United States with long-term follow-up, people who increased the amount of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and vegetable oils in their diet over 20 years had a 60 per cent lower risk of type 2 diabetes compared to those with a small decrease in plant foods. The findings suggested that long-term shifts towards a more plant-centered diet could help prevent diabetes.
Other findings suggested that people with higher intakes of vitamins B2 and B6 from food or supplements have a lower risk for type 2 diabetes. The study, which included more than 200,000 people, also revealed that consuming higher levels of vitamin B12 from foods was associated with a higher type 2 diabetes risk, which may be due to the consumption of animal products.
According to another study changing the order in which food is eaten could reduce post-meal blood sugar spikes.
The researchers found that eating rice first and then a vegetable and meat caused significantly higher blood sugar levels after eating compared to other sequences.
The results point to a simple but effective way to lower blood sugar levels after eating, which could prevent the transition from prediabetes to diabetes.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)