Health News - Diet high in processed meat linked to increased diabetes risk in populations with high diabetes rate

11.2.12

Health News - Diet high in processed meat linked to increased diabetes risk in populations with high diabetes rate:

By Leila Gray - Diabetes risk is increased in men and women who eat a diet that is high in processed meats, according to a study published online this week in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Processed meats include hot dogs, lunch meat, sausages and canned meats.

The link to type 2 diabetes was even greater for those who regularly ate canned meat. In this study, there was no evidence that eating unprocessed red meat increased the risk of diabetes.

The study was performed among specific tribes of American Indians and the results show a relationship between intake of processed meat and increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

The research team was led by Dr. Amanda Mae Fretts, an American Indian epidemiologist (Mi’kmaq) and a senior research fellow in the University of Washington Department of Medicine. The senior author of the paper is Dr. David S. Siscovick, professor of medicine and of epidemiology, co-director of the UW Cardiovascular Health Research Unit, and an investigator at the UW Clinical Nutrition Research Unit.