Emma Miller
If a person has type 2 diabetes, their body cells have difficulty absorbing glucose from the blood. In a new study, researchers have found a link between regular consumption of moderate to large amounts of fruit and a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
The researchers behind the study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, also found that eating more fruit was associated with favorable levels of glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, which are both associated with type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
If a person has type 2 diabetes, their body cells have difficulty absorbing glucose from the blood. Experts also call this insulin resistance, because it is insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, that facilitates the transfer of blood sugar to the cells.
The pancreas will continue to produce insulin, and as long as it produces enough, a person’s blood sugar level remains stable.
However, once the pancreas stops producing enough insulin to help cells overcome the inability to absorb glucose, a person’s blood sugar will rise to dangerous levels. High blood sugar levels over a long period of time can cause health problems, including vision loss, heart disease, and kidney disease.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, people can prevent or delay diabetes by gaining moderate weight, being more physically active, and eating a more balanced diet.
Dr. Hu and his co-authors emphasize that “healthy diets for the prevention and treatment of diabetes were generally rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, nuts, and legumes, moderate alcohol consumption, and less refined grains, red/processed meats, and sugar-sweetened beverages.”
The benefits of fruit
Researchers found a link between high fruit consumption and a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes in a 5-year follow-up study.
They also found a link between higher fruit consumption and better scores on insulin sensitivity and glucose intolerance.
According to corresponding author Dr. Nicola Bondonneau of the Institute of Nutrition Research at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia, people who consumed about 2 servings of fruit a day had a 36% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes over the next 5 years than those who consumed less than half a serving of fruit a day. “We did not observe the same patterns for fruit juice. These results show that a healthy diet and lifestyle, including eating whole fruit, is an excellent strategy for reducing diabetes risk,” she says.
Causal link?
The researchers note that their findings only demonstrate a link between whole fruit consumption and reduced diabetes risk. More research is needed to see if they can determine a causal relationship.
Nevertheless, the researchers suggest a number of reasons that could explain this link. They note that “most fruits are generally low in glycemic load, but are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals that may play a role.”
Dr. Bondonneau and her colleagues emphasize the fact that researchers have linked low fiber levels to type 2 diabetes, among other things.
This may also explain why they did not find a link between fruit juice consumption and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes: almost all of the fiber in fruit is removed during fruit juice processing.
