Low-carb diets and the so-called Mediterranean diet can both help protect against developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.
The findings involved people in Greece and an analysis of their eating habits conducted as part of a major European study of cancer prevention.
Researchers found that each diet on its own cut the risk of diabetes – and together were even more effective.
Those who consumed the most "Mediterranean" food – such as olive oil, fish, nuts and vegetables – were 12% less likely to develop the disease with those having the least in their diet.
Cutting the carbs cut the risk of disease by 18%.
The findings have been reported in the journal Diabetologia.
Although the introduction of so-called low-carb diets has proved controversial, the researchers point out they help to prevent the body being overloaded with sugary food – putting pressure on insulin management.
Researcher Dr Carlo La Vecchia, of the Mario Negri Institute of Pharmacological Research, Milan, Italy, writes: "The role of the Mediterranean diet in weight control is still controversial, and in most studies from Mediterranean countries the adherence to the Mediterranean diet was unrelated to overweight.
"This suggests that the protection of the Mediterranean diet against diabetes is not through weight control, but through several dietary characteristics of the Mediterranean diet."
Diabetologia 16 August 2013
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