Mediterranean diet can lower risk of Type 2 diabetes – even in non-Mediterranean population

The increasing global prevalence of type 2 diabetes shows the critical importance of effective dietary strategies for its prevention and management. Among various dietary patterns, the Mediterranean diet (Med Diet) has shown promising results in preventing type 2 diabetes, particularly in Mediterranean and European populations. However, it is unclear how these benefits can be applicable in non-Mediterranean populations.

The current study with 12,575 participants without diabetes at baseline demonstrated that there is an inverse association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and the risk of new-onset diabetes in general Chinese adults. The authors concluded that if these findings are further confirmed, they could be beneficial for promoting the Mediterranean diet in the Chinese population and contributing to the primary prevention of diabetes mellitus.