Cambridge-led study of 2m people globally is most comprehensive evidence yet of red meat link to diabetes

Eating processed or red meat increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, with just two slices of ham a day raising the danger by 15%, the largest study of its kind suggests.

Research led by the University of Cambridge and involving 2 million people worldwide provides the most comprehensive evidence yet of a link between meat and the disease that presents one of the most pressing dangers to global health.

More than 400 million people have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, which is a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes and lower limb amputation. As well as maintaining a healthy weight and moving more, evidence suggests one of the main ways to lower the risk of the disease is improving diet.

  • TriflingToad@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    This isn’t really my field so I’m unknowledgeable, isn’t sugar the main thing that’s causing diabetes?

    • r0ertel@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      I think this is an old myth that keeps circulating. According to the Mayo Clinic, “In type 2 diabetes, there are primarily two problems. The pancreas does not produce enough insulin — a hormone that regulates the movement of sugar into the cells. And cells respond poorly to insulin and take in less sugar.”

  • MajorHavoc
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    3 months ago

    My first thought on reading this was “who has that kind of access to ham? I’m kind of jealous.”

    I guess I shouldn’t be jealous.