Study Links Sodium With Increased Type 2 Diabetes Risk
New research suggests sodium, a component of table salt, is associated with a greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes (T2D), and Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA).
LADA is a form of type 1 diabetes where insulin producing pancreatic cells are slowly destroyed over many years by the body’s immune system. It is sometimes mistakenly diagnosed as T2D.
The study, carried out by Swedish and Finnish researchers, utilized data from a diabetes risk-factor investigation to compare 355 LADA, and 1,136 T2D cases to a group of 1,379 individuals without diabetes. Food intake was recorded via a diet questionnaire, from which calories, nutrients, and sodium intake were calculated. Genetic and other risk factors for diabetes were taken into account, including sex, BMI, family history, and physical activity.
The investigators found those with the highest sodium intake, above 3.15 grams per day, had a 58 percent greater risk for T2D onset compared to the lowest sodium intake group, using under 2.4 grams per day. (Since salt is only 40 percent sodium by weight, 3.15 grams of sodium translates to 7.9 grams of table salt; and 2.4 grams of sodium is found in 6.0 grams of table salt. There are 4.93 grams of salt in one teaspoon.)
The influence of sodium on the risk for LADA onset was even greater. People at high genetic risk for the condition, whose sodium intake was in the high range (above 3.15 grams per day), were nearly four times more likely to develop LADA than those in the lowest sodium group (under 2.4 grams per day).
“We confirm an association between sodium intake and type 2 diabetes,” concluded the study authors, and find that “high sodium intake may be a risk factor for LADA, especially in high risk…genotypes. These findings may have important implications in the primary prevention of diabetes with adult onset.”
Source: Science Daily; Reference
Photo credit: Dubravko Soric
More Articles
With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.
Farro...
Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....
With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...
If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...
In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.
When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...
More Articles
If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....
For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.
A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...
According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...
Eleven Clinical Studies
After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...
Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...
Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...
Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...
Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...
Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....
When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...
Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.
The...
Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...
Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...
Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...
One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...