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Study of 200,000 people associated hamburger consumption with a 40% higher risk of type 2 diabetesDizelen / Getty ImagesThe more red meat you consume, the greater your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and cancer. Researchers from Harvard University, USA, and Laval University, Canada, reinforced the link based on 216,695 participants of the Nurses’ Health Study, the Nurses’ Health Study II, and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Recruited between 1976 and 1989 and followed until 2017, the participants of the three studies described their health status and food and drink consumption every two years. Nearly 22,800 people developed type 2 diabetes during the study period. Those who ate more red meat had a 62% higher risk of developing the disease than people who ate less. Processed red meat (sausages, beef or pork hot dogs, and bacon) was associated with a 51% increase in type 2 diabetes risk. Unprocessed red meat (lean or regular hamburgers, beef, pork, or lamb as a sandwich or main dish), meanwhile, was associated with a 40% increase. The study does not prove that eating red meat causes type 2 diabetes, but it is known that saturated fat, which is abundant in red meat, reduces insulin sensitivity. It also affects the functioning of beta cells in the pancreas, which produce insulin, responsible for controlling blood glucose levels. Swapping a serving of meat for nuts or legumes reduced the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 30%, while opting for dairy decreased the risk by 22% (CNN and American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, October 19).
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