Professor Oleg Medvedev, from the Faculty of Fundamental Medicine at Moscow State University, the scientific director of the Healthy Nutrition Research Center, stated that recent scientific data identifies an important method for preventing prediabetes.
The professor points out that scientific studies consistently confirm that regular consumption of fruits and vegetables can be an important element in preventing prediabetes—a condition that precedes type 2 diabetes.
He says: "A new systematic review and meta-analysis, which included the results of 20 observational studies involving more than 182,000 people, showed that a higher intake of these foods is associated with an 18 percent lower risk of developing prediabetes. These health benefits are due to the fact that fruits and vegetables, in addition to vitamins and minerals, also contain dietary fiber and polyphenols, which improve insulin sensitivity and maintain blood sugar levels within the normal range. The prediabetes stage should be a catalyst for intervention, because lifestyle and dietary changes at this stage can slow down or even prevent the progression of the disease to diabetes, and in some cases, restore blood sugar levels to normal."
According to him, the metabolic effect depends on the method of consumption. That is, whole fruits are better than juices, and with regard to vegetables, the cooking method and the proportion of raw foods in the diet should be considered.
He says: "Eating enough fruits and vegetables is an important part of the strategy to prevent diabetes. However, scientists point out that the causal relationship has not yet been conclusively proven. Therefore, new future studies are needed to clarify which foods, cooking methods, and eating patterns are most effective in reducing the risk of prediabetes."
He adds: "Including a variety of fruits and vegetables in the diet is a simple and affordable step towards health, and can help millions of people maintain a healthy metabolism and reduce their risk of developing diabetes."
