Daily food intake of these foods items can increase chances of diabetes by 17%: Study

Amid people living with diabetes in India going up, a recent Lancet study involving over three lakh people for an average of 10.9 years found that each 10% increment of total daily food intake from UPF (%/day) was associated with 17% higher incidence of diabetes.

According to a new study published in the journal, The Lancet Regional Health - Europe, which looked into the potential link between degree of processing of food and incident of diabetes, replacing ultra-processed food or UPF with unprocessed/minimally processed food (MPF), processed culinary ingredients (PCI) or processed food (PF) lowers the risk of developing the disease.

Food items to avoid:

• Ultra-processed savoury snacks, animal-based products
• Ready-to-eat meals
• Sugar-sweetened beverages/artificially-sweetened beverages

Food items to reduce chances:

• Breads, biscuits
• breakfast cereals
• Sweets and desserts
• Plant-based alternatives

"It is especially important for India, where fast food consumption and type 2 diabetes are on the rise, especially post Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, there is an increased reliance on ready-to-eat meals and snacks, increasing heart attack and fatty liver risk, besides diabetes," Dr Anoop Misra, chairman of Fortis C-Docaid told ToI.

Diabetes in India:

Chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular conditions, mental health disorders, diabetes, and cancer, are now the leading causes of death and disability in India. Hypertension and diabetes account for about 68 per cent of all chronic diseases in India. Other common chronic diseases include arthritis, lung disease, heart disease or stroke, neurological diseases, and cancer. The major risk factors for chronic diseases in India include undernutrition, air pollution, unhealthy diet, high blood pressure, high fasting plasma glucose, high cholesterol, and obesity.

A recent report from Fedo Vitals reveals the major challenges faced by individuals managing chronic diseases, particularly related to treatment costs, healthcare access, and lifestyle adjustments.

The cost of treatment remains a heavy burden, with 64 per cent of users reporting that the cumulative cost of ongoing care, including hospital visits, medications, and home care, poses a significant financial challenge. Additionally, 45 per cent of individuals noted inconsistent insurance coverage, leading to high out-of-pocket expenses, especially for advanced treatments. The economic strain often extends to families, with 39 per cent of users mentioning that family members contribute financially or take time off work to help with caregiving.

(with TOI inputs)