New research has found that children who are genetically susceptible to type 1 diabetes are more likely to develop the disease if they consume certain foods like bananas, oats, and wheat, while their risk is lowered by consuming strawberries and blueberries. The study, conducted by Suvi Virtanen and colleagues at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, followed 5,674 Finnish children from birth to the age of six, with 94 of them developing type 1 diabetes and 206 developing islet autoimmunity. The researchers found that fruits containing traces of pesticides may explain why certain fruits increase the risk of diabetes while others lower it.
On the other hand, the study also found that consuming berries rich in polyphenols, such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackcurrants, can protect children from developing type 1 diabetes. Further research is needed to determine which specific factors in these foods are responsible for the associations found in the study.
The findings from this study do not align with explanations from Diabetes UK, which emphasizes the complex and unknown causes of type 1 diabetes, not necessarily related to diet. In a separate study presented at the same conference, researchers found that “night owls” are nearly 50% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, possibly due to lifestyle factors such as drinking more, smoking, and having a poorer diet.
Overall, these findings emphasize the importance of further research and understanding the role of diet and lifestyle in the development of diabetes, but it is still premature to make specific dietary recommendations based on these findings.
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