Study shows excessive salt intake increases the risk of type 2 diabetes

Scientists at Tulane University in the United States have established a link between salt consumption and the risk of type 2 diabetes. Abuse of this food additive, which is used in cooking, increases the likelihood of developing the disease.

This is stated in the materials of the study, which was published in the monthly medical journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings. To establish this connection, scientists have been tracking the salt intake of more than 400,000 adults for 12 years.

At the beginning of the study, all participants did not suffer from diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cancer, or cardiovascular disease.

They provided the researchers with full information about how often they salted the food they cooked at home. There were five possible answers: "never," "rarely," "sometimes," "usually," or "always."

Eventually, 13,000 of the study participants who regularly consumed salt were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Compared to those who never or rarely consumed salt, people who sometimes, usually or always salted their food were 13%, 20% and 39% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, respectively.

"We already know that limiting salt can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension, but this study shows that avoiding salt can also help prevent the development of type 2 diabetes for the first time," said Dr. Lu Qi, lead author of the study and director of the Tulane University Obesity Research Center.

According to scientists, the link between salt abuse and diabetes should be studied in more detail, but it can already be argued that high salt intake increases body mass index. Researchers also suggest that salt may encourage people to eat larger portions of food. This, in turn, increases the likelihood of developing obesity and various inflammations that increase the risk of developing diabetes.

It should be noted that diabetes occurs when the human body stops regulating blood sugar levels properly. This leads to insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetes usually develops with age. People who are overweight or obese and eat too many sweet and fatty foods are at risk.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, according to the study, people who tend to fall asleep late are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. They also smoke more often, have unbalanced sleep and a higher body mass index, and rarely exercise.

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