Changes in red meat consumption and subsequent risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: three cohorts of US men and women.

A surge in the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with high intake of red meat.

This study examined red meat consumption in relation to type 2 diabetes mellitus risk. Using validated food frequency questionnaires, researchers collated and analyzed data on the red meat intake of 149,143 men and women recruited from the US Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professional Follow-up Study cohorts. The type 2 diabetes hazard ratio of each participant in this study was also determined.

Researchers discovered that subjects who consumed more than 0.50g of red meat per day had 48% higher chances of developing type 2 diabetes than low meat eaters. On the other hand, a reduction in the frequency of consumption of red meat by more than 0.50g per day was observed to decrease type 2 diabetes development risk by 14%. The findings of this study show that consistent consumption of large servings of red meat may increase the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus.