More than 70 percent of new cases of type 2 diabetes are caused by a poor diet.
Processed carbohydrates—including refined rice and wheat—are the biggest culprit and were responsible for most of the 14.1 million new cases reported around the world in 2018, say researchers from Tufts University.
A poor diet—which also includes eating too much processed meat and not enough whole grains—was directly responsible for more than 70 percent of new cases, especially in countries such as Poland and Russia where people were eating high amounts of processed food.
Sugary drinks were a bigger factor in new cases of diabetes in Latin America and the Caribbean, the researchers found.
Cases of type 2 diabetes are increasing every year, and this has an enormous impact on economic productivity, healthcare costs and overall health. Nations need to address the rise of processed foods, and encourage people to eat healthier diets, the researchers say.
