Scientists Discover a Major Cause of Type 2 Diabetes Affecting 95% of People
Type 2 diabetes is one of the most common health problems in the world. According to a report by Science Alert, researchers have identified a key cause of this disease, which accounts for about 95% of all diabetes cases globally.
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| Scientists Discover a Major Cause of Type 2 Diabetes Affecting 95% of People |
The study found that an unhealthy diet is the main reason people develop type 2 diabetes.
Researchers reached this conclusion after analyzing data from 184 countries collected between 1990 and 2018.
Type 2 diabetes happens when the body cannot manage blood sugar (glucose) properly.
According to Mayo Clinic, when blood sugar stays too high, it can damage the circulatory system, nervous system, and immune system.
There are two main problems with type 2 diabetes:
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The pancreas does not produce enough insulin (a hormone that moves sugar into the body's cells).
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The body’s cells do not respond correctly to insulin, so they absorb less sugar.
Although type 2 diabetes usually appears in adults, it can also affect children and teenagers, especially those who are overweight.
The researchers studied 11 different food factors. They found that three were most important:
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Not eating enough whole grains.
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Eating too much white rice and refined wheat.
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Eating a lot of processed meats.
This study was published in the scientific journal Nature Medicine.
Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a heart doctor and nutrition professor at Tufts University in Massachusetts, explained that bad carbohydrates are the main reason why an unhealthy diet causes type 2 diabetes around the world.
He also said that the situation is different from one country to another.
The study showed that unhealthy diets affect men more than women, and young people more than older adults.
In terms of geography, the highest rates of diet-related diabetes were found in:
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Central and Eastern Europe
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Central Asia
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Latin America
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The Caribbean
These regions often eat a lot of processed red meat, which may explain the higher diabetes rates.
Mayo Clinic also points out that there is no cure for type 2 diabetes, but losing weight, eating healthy foods, and exercising regularly can help control the disease.