The researchers found that suboptimal intake of 11 dietary factors contributed to 14.1 million new T2D cases globally in 2018, with excessive consumption of harmful dietary factors contributing to a higher percentage of the burden than inadequate consumption of protective dietary factors. Of the 11 dietary factors, 6 are taken in inadequate amounts:
- Whole grains
- Fruits
- Nuts
- Yogurt
- Seeds
- Non-starchy vegetables
And 5 are taken in excessive amounts:
- Refined wheat and rice
- Unprocessed red meat
- Processed meat
- Sugar-sweetened beverages
- Potatoes
The researchers found that suboptimal intake of 11 dietary factors contributed to 14.1 million new T2D cases globally in 2018, with excessive consumption of harmful dietary factors contributing to a higher percentage of the burden than inadequate consumption of protective dietary factors. Insufficient whole grain intake led to the most T2D cases globally, followed by excessive intake of refined wheat and rice, processed meat, and unprocessed red meat.
There was marked heterogeneity in T2D incidence due to overall suboptimal diets and individual dietary factors at the country level and worldwide. Some dietary factors showed substantial regional heterogeneity, and the burden of T2D varied based on age, gender, urbanicity, education level, and socio-economic development.
The research emphasised the crucial need to address carbohydrate quality, with a specific focus on reducing the consumption of excessively refined rice and wheat while increasing the intake of whole grains. These two dietary factors were identified as the primary drivers of T2D worldwide, although their impact varied by region and over time. Out of the 11 dietary factors examined, the highest proportional burden of T2D was associated with excessive consumption of unprocessed red meat, which contributed the most to the global increase in T2D incidence.
