Burden of type 2 diabetes attributable to dietary risks in 34 Asian countries: the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023.

OBJECTIVE

To quantify the burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) attributable to dietary risks across Asia.

STUDY

DESIGN

Using the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of T2DM attributable to seven dietary risks were evaluated across 34 Asian countries from 1990 to 2023.

RESULTS

In 2023, dietary risks accounted for 9.97 million DALYs and 214,810 deaths from T2DM across Asia. A diet low in fruit, covering fresh, frozen, cooked, canned, or dried fruits, was the largest contributor, accounting for 3.60 million DALYs and 85,960 deaths. Regional patterns differed markedly. Diets low in fruit and whole grains, including bran, germ, and endosperm, were the leading contributors in South Asia (e.g., India) and Southeast Asia (e.g., Indonesia), respectively. Diets high in unprocessed red meat, including beef, pork, and lamb, processed meat preserved by smoking, curing, salting, or chemical preservatives, and both red and processed meat were the leading contributors in East Asia (e.g., China), high-income Asia Pacific (e.g., Japan), and Central Asia (e.g., Uzbekistan), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings support region-specific prevention and may help primary care providers prioritize practical dietary counseling, including appropriate whole-fruit intake, whole-grain substitution, and reducing red and processed meat consumption.