Becoming a vegan could reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes

Becoming a vegan or vegetarian could reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.

US researchers badyzed nine studies of 307,099 participants with 23,544 cases of type 2 diabetes.

They found a significant decrease in the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes and following "herbal diets" – veganism, vegetarianism and generally higher consumption of plant-based foods and food consumption based on animals.

Those who adhered most strictly to herbal diets (vegans) had the lowest risk of developing the disease.

But before you make fun of vegan sausage rolls, it's important to note that the link has been reinforced when in good health Herbal foods have been eaten, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts.

Unhealthy plant foods, such as cereals, sugar and starchy foods, were badociated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.

The authors, from Boston's Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, believe the study provides "the most complex evidence on the badociation between herbal dietary habits and the incidence of type 2 diabetes" .

The study also suggests that you will not have to worry that a vegan diet will deprive you of essential nutrients.

The authors of the study stated: "Strict vegan diets excluding dairy products and fish could result in an insufficient intake of certain nutrients in the general population, including vitamins B12 and D and calcium, whose consumption is badociated with a lower risk of type. 2 diabetes.

"However, the consumption of animal products is not the only way to prevent nutritional deficiencies for these specific nutrients.

"Consumption of a balanced plant-based diet, with the addition of fortified foods and the use of dietary supplements, can help people on a vegan or vegetarian diet to meet their nutrient needs.

"The dose-response badociation observed in our badysis suggests that in populations in general that do not practice strict vegetarian or vegan diets, substituting animal products with healthy plant-based foods is likely to exercise a significant reduction in the risk of diabetes. "

Clinical trials have shown that diets rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains individually improve insulin sensitivity and blood pressure and reduce weight gain in the long run.

People who follow these diets tend to avoid red and processed meats, which have been badociated with an increased risk of developing the disease.

Emily Burns, head of research at Diabetes UK, said: "We know that a healthy diet can help people reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a serious illness that can lead to catastrophic complications.

"This study adds to the evidence that following an herbal diet is one way to do it.

"We also know that specific foods in healthy herbal diets such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains have been badociated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.

"However, more research is needed to understand how herbal diets are useful in helping people reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and who will benefit most from this approach."

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