Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Type 2 means the body doesn’t use insulin properly. Some people can control their blood sugar levels with healthy eating and exercise. Others may need medication or inulin to manage it. A huge part of managing type 2 diabetes is developing a healthy diet. One study suggests adding fruits and vegetables to the diet may help reduce type 2 diabetes.
According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, boosting fruit and vegetable intake could lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. The findings were based on 9,754 adults who developed new-onset of type 2 diabetes and a comparison group of 13,662 adults who remained free of diabetes. Researchers found after adjusting for lifestyle, social, and dietary risk factors for diabetes, people with the highest levels of fruit and vegetable consumption were 50 percent less likely to develop diabetes than those with the lowest levels.
The researchers say their findings provide support to increase fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet to prevent type 2 diabetes.
Source:
Li M, Fan Y, Zhang X, et al. Fruit and vegetable intake and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies BMJ Open 2014;4:e005497. Doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005497