Eating a lot of red meat increases the risk of diabetes

NEW RESEARCH from Harvard University shows that people who eat more than 2 servings of red meat per week (equivalent to 140 g) have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes than people who consume less.

The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in mid-October, showed that people who ate the most red meat, about 2.5 servings per day, had a 62% higher risk of type 2 diabetes than those who ate the most red meat. eat the least.

Experts from Harvard University examined the health and dietary records of about 200,000 people. They were asked every 2 to 4 years about what they consumed over 36 years. During this time, more than 22,000 participants developed type 2 diabetes.

After adjusting for other factors, including physical activity and alcohol intake, the researchers found the more servings of red meat people ate, the more likely they were to develop diabetes. Specifically, each serving of red meat (processed such as sausage, ham, bacon...) is associated with a 46% higher risk of diabetes, while the figure for red meat (unprocessed) is associated with a 46% higher risk of diabetes. processing) is 24%. People who consumed more than two servings per day (equivalent to 140 g or more) had a 62% higher risk of type 2 diabetes than those who ate the least.

According to experts, the above work does not confirm that eating red meat is a direct cause of diabetes, but it shows a connection between the amount of meat you eat and the risk of getting the disease.

However, scientist Xiao Gu, the study author, recommends that people limit red meat consumption to only 70 g per week, and replace protein intake with plants such as beans and other types of meat. seeds..., while implementing a healthy lifestyle.

Currently, more than 5 million Vietnamese people have diabetes (type 1, 2), accounting for 5.7% of the population, but 50% of them are undiagnosed. Type 2 diabetes often progresses silently and without symptoms for many years before being diagnosed. Many people do not detect diabetes because the disease only shows symptoms such as weight loss despite eating a lot, thirst, and frequent urination when blood sugar rises too high.

Patients who detect the disease late, blood sugar increases too high can lead to coma due to increased blood osmotic pressure, ketoacidosis (increased acidity in the blood), infection, risk of stroke, and myocardial infarction. Prolonged high blood sugar before the patient is diagnosed and treated causes complications in organs such as blood vessels, nerves, kidneys, and eyes.

The United Nations also predicts that the number of people with diabetes will double, from 529 million today to 1.3 billion by 2050. By then, one in seven to one in eight of the population will be living with the disease. Diabetes is a threat to the health