ABSTRACT
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) develops as a result of complex multifactorial process having both lifestyle and genetic origins. The main risk factors for T2D are obesity and sedentary lifestyle (1). A “Westernized” dietary pattern with low fiber (2-4) and high saturated (5) and trans fats (6), refined carbohydrates (7), sweetened beverages (8), sodium (9), and red meat (10,11) intake has been shown to be associated with increased T2D risk. Another feature of modern lifestyle, voluntary sleep deprivation, also increases diabetes risk (12,13). Fortunately, there are also protective lifestyle-related factors such as physical activity (14). The data are also accumulating on decreased T2D risk associated with coffee (15-17) and moderate alcohol, particularly wine consumption (18).
