Eating Fast Can Raise Diabetes Risk

Recent research from Japan has shown that individuals who eat their meals faster increase their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In fact, the rate at which impaired glucose tolerance, commonly known as pre-diabetes, can develop is doubled.

While scientists believe that practicing this way of eating could result in diabetes later in life, they found no such connection when they looked at other factors such as late-night snacking or eating meals later in the day.

When comparing data, researchers also considered other risk factors that could weight in on the results. They looked at a wide range of areas such as those who had a family history of diabetes, age, ethnicity and weight. Other areas that were considered in the comparison included the consumption of alcohol and smoking and levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. But out of all of these additional factors, none of these areas signaled a direct connection. Eating meals faster was the only factor that increased the likelihood of developing impaired glucose tolerance.

Even though having the condition of impaired glucose tolerance automatically means that the body's blood glucose levels are higher than normal, this is still not enough, on it's own, to cause a diagnosis of diabetes. However, without treatment, the condition can manifest over time into type 2 diabetes.

Experts estimate that within the next ten years, between 40 and 50 percent of the individuals who currently have impaired glucose tolerance will see their condition develop into type 2 diabetes.