Diets Including Whole Fruits May Decrease Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes

Individuals who consume 2 servings of fruit per day have 36% lower odds of developing type 2 diabetes than those who consume less than half a serving, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

The investigators studied data from 7675 participants from the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute's Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study. These individuals provided information on their fruit and fruit juice intake through a food frequency questionnaire.

According to the results of the study, participants who ate more whole fruits had 36% lower odds of having diabetes after 5 years. The researchers found an association between fruit intake and markers of insulin sensitivity, which meant that people who consumed more fruit had to produce less insulin to lower their blood glucose levels.

“This is important because high levels of circulating insulin (hyperinsulinemia) can damage blood vessels and are related not only to diabetes, but also to high blood pressure, obesity and heart disease,” said Nicola Bondonno, PhD, in a press release.

Approximately 463 million adults worldwide were living with diabetes in 2019, and by 2045, this number is expected to rise to 700 million. Currently, according to the authors of the study, an estimated 374 million people have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease. A healthy diet can be a major contributor to the reduction of risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

“We found people who consumed around 2 servings of fruit per day had a 36 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes over the next five years than those who consumed less than half a serving of fruit per day,” Bondonno said in the release. “We did not see the same patterns for fruit juice. These findings indicate that a healthy diet and lifestyle which includes the consumption of whole fruits is a great strategy to lower your diabetes risk.”

REFERENCE

People who eat a healthy diet including whole fruits may be less likely to develop diabetes [news release]. EurekAlert; June 2, 2021. Accessed June 2, 2021. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-06/tes-pwe060121.php