DRINKING FOUR OF MORE CUPS OF TEA DAILY is associated with an over one in six lower risks of type 2 diabetes. Today we explore the relationship between tea consumption and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Worldwide, over 400 million individuals live with diabetes mellitus. Today we explore diabetes basics before turning to how tea may slightly reduce the risk of suffering from the condition. We’ll also explore other ways you can lower your chances of suffering from type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes basics
Diabetes is a long-lasting health condition that affects how your body converts food into energy. We all break down the food we eat into sugar (glucose) and release it into the bloodstream.
As our blood glucose rises, our body signals the pancreas to release insulin. Insulin is a key to blood sugar entry into our cells for energy use.
Those with diabetes don’t make enough insulin or cannot use it properly. When there is insufficient insulin or cells cease to respond to it, excessive sugar remains in the bloodstream.
Diabetes types
- Type 1 diabetes is likely the result of the body attacking itself by mistake, an autoimmune reaction. This event stops your body from creating insulin. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes typically develop rapidly, most common in children, teens, and young adults. If you have type 1 diabetes, you must take insulin daily to survive.
- Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, representing over nine out of 10 cases of diabetes. The body cannot use insulin well with type 2 diabetes, making it challenging to keep blood sugar at normal levels.
Type 2 diabetes develops over many years and is commonly discovered in adults. Younger people can get it too. Because there aren’t always noticeable symptoms, it is important to have a blood sugar test if you are at risk.
- Gestational diabetes happens in some pregnant women who have never had diabetes. This diabetes form can put the baby at higher risk for health issues. While gestational diabetes typically resolves after delivery, it can increase your risk of getting type 2 diabetes later in life. Moreover, the baby is more likely to have obesity as a child or teen and develop type 2 diabetes later in life.
- Pre-diabetes is common; in the United States, more than one in three have it. Disturbingly, more than 80 percent of those with pre-diabetes are unaware that they have the condition. If you have pre-diabetes, you have a higher risk of several health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Fortunately, a lifestyle change program can help you take healthy steps to reverse it.
Diabetes: How common is each type?
A 2018 study from the University of Iowa (USA) finds that type 2 diabetes remains the most common type of diabetes.
Let’s look at prevalence in the population:
Among the over 58,000 adults examined, the prevalence of diabetes was about 10 percent. This number includes 0.5 percent of us with type 1 and 8.5 percent with type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes appeared more prevalent among younger adults and those with higher education levels. Low body mass index and non-Hispanic white status also appeared to be associated with type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes appeared more common among men, those 65 and older, and individuals with a lower educational level or family income. High body mass index appeared associated with type 2 diabetes, as did non-Hispanic Asian status.
Overall, among US adults with diagnosed diabetes, type 1 and type 2 diabetes accounted for 6 percent and 91 percent of cases, respectively.
We used to refer to type 2 diabetes as adult-onset diabetes, but both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can begin during childhood or adulthood. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form among older adults. With the risk in children with obesity, we see more type 2 diabetes in younger folks.
Diabetes complications
Unfortunately, chronic diabetes can lead to problems such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease. Fortunately, lifestyle maneuvers such as losing weight, being active, and eating healthy can help many.
Diabetes symptoms
The Mayo Clinic explains that type 2 diabetes symptoms may include the following:
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Increased hunger
- Unintended weight loss
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing sores
- Frequent infections
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
- Areas of darkened skin, usually in the armpits and neck
Symptoms often develop slowly, and you may have type 2 diabetes without knowing it.
Tea and type 2 diabetes risk
Let’s turn to tea, my favorite beverage. Coffee often overshadows tea in the health benefits realm. Researchers recently investigated the effects of drinking tea — green, oolong, and black tea — on diabetes risk.
The scientists conducted a meta-analysis of 19 studies from eight countries, recently presenting their findings at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting in Stockholm, Sweden.
The study included nearly 5,200 adults participating in the China Health and Nutrition Survey. None of the subjects had diabetes at the study entry.
Here are the study findings:
- According to participant surveys, 46 percent consumed tea, of whom 10 percent developed type 2 diabetes during the 1997 to 2009 follow-up period.
- After adjusting for confounding variables (including age, sex, and lifestyle), the researchers discovered that tea drinkers had a similar type 2 diabetes risk to those who did not drink tea.
The researchers continued, performing a systematic review of 19 studies, including nearly 1.1 million subjects, that examined the relationship between tea consumption and type 2 diabetes risk.
This time, the researchers found tea reduced the type 2 diabetes risk. More specifically, those who consumed one to three cups of tea each day had a four percent lower risk than non-consumers of tea.
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