Type 2 diabetes has a number of links to lifestyle, diet and fitness levels with new studies constantly shedding light on what might increase or decrease your risk of developing the disease.
A new study by the University of Cambridge found a remarkable link with protein, specifically processed meat and unprocessed red meat.
The staggeringly large study saw nearly two million people’s data across 20 countries being analysed by the research team through the InterConnect project, funded by the European Union to find a deeper understanding of diabetes and obesity in the population.
Sifting through their diets and diagnoses, the researchers found eating 100 grams of unprocessed red meat every day, the equivalent of a small steak, was enough to increase your risk of diabetes by 10%.
It also found that it only took 50 grams of processed meat per day, the equivalent of two slices of ham, to have a 15% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the next decade.
The findings were published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology journey with recommendations for people to cut down their intake of meat.
Senior author Professor Nita Forouhi, of the University of Cambridge’s Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, warned: “Our research provides the most comprehensive evidence to date of an association between eating processed meat and unprocessed red meat and a higher future risk of type 2 diabetes.”
Chicken, turkey and duck aren’t quite in the clear yet as the team said the link between these foods and type 2 diabetes requires “further investigation”.
Dietitian and spokesperson for British Dietetic Association, Dr Duane Mellor, who was not involved in the study, advised that reducing diabetes risk also included eating a diet with sufficient amounts of “vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, beans, peas and lentils” with moderate or limited amounts of wholegrain, meat, dairy, fat, salt and sugar.
He also recommended combining this diet with regular exercise to minimise the risk of diabetes as much as possible.