Once referred to as adult-onset diabetes, type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or is unable to use insulin properly. It usually develops in people who are over the age of 40 or to those who are overweight and have a family history of the disease. However, doctors are now seeing a disturbing, rising trend of increasingly rampant type 2 diabetes cases in younger populations as well. This seems to be happening in spite of other bodies of research that have been showing that one’s chances of developing the disease can be significantly reduced once the right lifestyle, dietary and exercise adjustments are made.

Its already been made fairly clear that a diet lower in saturated fat, sugar and cholesterol could significantly improve one’s chances of escaping this life-threatening disease, and now a new study fine-tunes this preventative dietary approach even further. The newest research links the development of type 2 diabetes with diets high in acidity.

RELATED READING: An Alarming Trend of Misdiagnosed Diabetes Cases

Acid Load in our Diets

A large study conducted through the Center for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health in France closely examined the relationship between acid load and diabetes. More than 60,000 women took part in the experiment, and they were monitored for fourteen years.

A standard technique was used to measure the women’s dietary acid consumption and nutrient intake by calculating what is known as their renal acid load. The women who had the higher acid load in their diets had about a 30 percent higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes, and in the course of the study, 1, 372 new cases of type 2 diabetes were diagnosed among the participants.

Low-Acid Diets for Diabetes Prevention

The authors of the study explain that diets rich in animal-based proteins produce a high level of internal acidity in the body, such as meat, dairy products, and also refined products and foods high in sugar. On the other hand, fruits and vegetables create alkaline environments that neutralize acidity.

Over the last decade, the Alkaline Diet has grown in popularity, especially among those who suffer with arthritis, cancer and diabetes. The alkaline diet includes a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts, grains, legumes, and other high fiber, plant-based foods. It excludes the consumption of red meats, poultry, dairy products, white sugar, white flour or any processed foods. While adopting a completely vegan lifestyle may not be the right choice for many people, including more of these plant-based foods into one’s diet, while reducing the amount of refined and animal based products, could be enough to have an immense impact on your health.

RELATED READING: How Walnuts Can Help Lower Heart Disease and Diabetes Risks

Diabetes Prevention is about Diet & Lifestyle

There are many factors that can increase your risk of getting diabetes; diet is just one of them. If you think you are at risk due to diet and are considering a change in lifestyle, it is important to consult with your doctor. Other lifestyle changes also play an important role om your health, such as an exercise program and abstaining from drinking too much alcohol. Sometimes, people who have diabetes or pre-diabetes have other health-related issues that can be impacted by changes in food consumption, making it even more important to seek medical supervision when it comes to any changes in diet.