Whole Grains, Moderate Alcohol Intake Linked with Lower Diabetes Risk

Numerous studies have been published on diet and diabetes risk, but the quality of these studies varies widely, making it hard to compare the risks and benefits of different food choices. In this analysis, researchers reviewed 53 studies on diet and type 2 diabetes risk, and evaluated their strength and validity. There was high evidence that 30g per day of whole grains was linked with a 13% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes and that 10g per day of fiber from grains was linked with a 25% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. There was also moderate evidence that 0.5-1 ounce of alcohol per day was linked with a 25% lower risk of type 2 diabetes than not drinking at all. On the other hand, eating 3.5 ounces of red meat daily, 2 ounces of processed meat daily, 2 slices of bacon daily, or one serving of sugar sweetened beverages were all strongly linked with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
BMJ. 2019 Jul 3;366:l2368. doi: 10.1136/bmj.l2368. (Neuenschwander M et al.)