Aug. 21, 2024 -- Eating a hamburger or a few pieces of bacon daily may increase the risk of developing diabetes by up to 15%. The type of meat consumed, and whether it is processed, can significantly impact the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes over about 10 years.
That’s according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Cambridge in England that was also published Wednesday in the journal The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology. Nearly 4 in 10 U.S. adults already have prediabetes and are at high risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes, which is condition that affects how the body converts food into energy. Typically diagnosed around age 45 or later, type 2 diabetes can cause serious complications like kidney disease and in 2021 was the eighth leading cause of death in the U.S.
The researchers in the new study sought to understand how eating unprocessed red meat, processed meat, and poultry impacted type 2 diabetes risk. They took into account known type 2 diabetes risk factors like physical activity level and body mass index, and used other statistical methods to attempt to isolate the relationship between meat consumption and type 2 diabetes risk.
“Our research provides the most comprehensive evidence to date of an association between eating processed meat and unprocessed red meat and a higher future risk of type 2 diabetes,” said study author Nita Forouhi, MBBS, PhD, a professor at the University of Cambridge. “It supports recommendations to limit the consumption of processed meat and unprocessed red meat to reduce type 2 diabetes cases in the population.”
The researchers said it was unclear whether there was a link between poultry consumption and that further research about that potential link was needed.
The findings are the latest in a growing collection of connections between health problems and eating red or processed meats. The study authors noted that scientists are still trying to understand what happens in the body (often called “mechanisms”) after a person eats meat that could set in motion the development of type 2 diabetes. They noted that potential ways include changes in how the body responds to the hormone insulin, which may be related to the high amount of saturated fat in red and processed meats. Diets that limit or eliminate meat have been shown to often result in eating fewer calories and less fat.
Another reason why regular meat consumption might increase the risk of type 2 diabetes is that those who eat more meat may also not eat as many healthful foods, such as fruits and vegetables, Forouhi toldThe New York Times.
How much meat a person regularly ate and the type of meat impacted type 2 diabetes risk, the study showed. People who regularly ate 50 grams of processed meat per day, such as two slices of ham, had a 15% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes over the course of 10 years. Eating 100 grams of unprocessed red meat, such as a small steak, was linked to a 10% increased risk. The researchers also reported that replacing processed meat with unprocessed red meat or poultry could lower a person’s type 2 diabetes risk. Another recent study from last year also found that substituting other foods like dairy, nuts, or legumes to reduce red meat intake was linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.
