A British-Austrian team of authors has demonstrated the significant effect of the diet of diabetics on this chronic kidney disease. A healthy, plant-based diet reduces the risk by about a quarter, while an unhealthy diet increases the risk by more than a third.
Kidney damage is one of the most feared complications of diabetes.
In addition to damage to the retina and the threat of blindness, heart attacks, strokes, etc. due to accelerated atherosclerosis and problems with circulation in the legs, progressive kidney failure is at least an equally dangerous long-term complication of diabetes.
Figures from Germany show that approximately 40 percent of patients with type 2 diabetes have reduced kidney function. When the organs eventually fail, regular dialysis or a kidney transplant is essential. From a medical perspective, good blood sugar control and management of atherosclerosis risks (cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.) are the best precautions.
Lifestyle factors are crucial to health, especially in type 2 diabetes. A study by the British Biobank of 7,747 diabetics over more than ten years showed that diet has a major influence. Nearly half of the participants were overweight and the average age was 58.8 years.
The researchers led by Martina Gaggl and Tilman Kühn from the Center for Public Health at MedUni Vienna distinguish between healthy and unhealthy plant foods. Healthy foods included whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes, while unhealthy options such as fruit juices, sweets and refined grains were evaluated. Animal fats and meat were classified as negative in both groups.
Summary of results
A healthy plant-based diet reduced the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) by 24 percent, while an unhealthy diet increased the risk by 35 percent. During the study, 13.3 percent of diabetics developed chronic kidney disease. In Austria, at least 600,000 people suffer from diabetes.
Source: Krone
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