By Colin Kenny, Editor – Diabetes Distilled
Investigators developed a unique scoring mechanismto predict the likehood of individuals developing type 2 diabetes (T2D). By utilising this tool, they identified a cohort of 402 female patients at very high risk of developing T2D, documented their risk factors, and specifically their dietary intake. This cohort was then followed up for 20 years. Investigators found that the top characteristic associated with not developing T2D, despite being at very high risk, was a healthy diet, characterised by limiting Western dietary habits and having a high intake of antioxidant‐rich foods.
French investigators developed a sophisticated scoring mechanism(Data from an Epidemiological Study on the Insulin Resistance Syndrome [DESIR]) to predict the likehood of developing T2D. Through this they identified a cohort of 402 female patients at very high risk of developing T2D, and then examined risk factors associated with not having T2D at the end of 20 years’ follow‐up.
During the follow-up period, 117 women (29%) developed T2D, with 285 (71%) still being free from the condition at study completion. The most important characteristic associated with not developing T2D was a low Western pattern diet. In women with a moderate or high Western dietary pattern score, a high intake of antioxidant‐rich foods was the characteristic most closely associated with not developing T2D. Of these women, 26% ultimately developed T2D, compared with 20% of those with low Western dietary pattern scores and 29% of the group as a whole.
The results of this study emphasise the importance of diet, along with physical activity, in the prevention of T2D in people at high risk.
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