The Mediterranean diet is based on a high intake of legumes, nuts, fish, olive oil and vegetables. It also includes a relatively low consumption of meat and dairy products and moderate intake of alcohol. Previous studies have suggested that a Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of heart attack and heart-related death. In a recent study in BMJ, the journal of the British Medical Association, investigators from Spain reported that people who eat a Mediterranean-style are less likely to develop diabetes.

The investigators evaluated 13,380 healthy Spanish university graduates without diabetes and followed them for an average of 4.4 years. Using an extensive questionnaire to assess dietary habits, the researchers found that study participants who adhered closely to a Mediterranean-style diet how a lower risk of diabetes. The benefits of the Mediterranean diet even held for participants who had a higher baseline risk for developing diabetes based on weight, blood pressure, smoking history, and family history of the disease.

In 2000, diabetes was the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. The prevalence of diabetes in the United States is on the rise, making it an ever-increasing public health problem. Diabetes prevention is a critical strategy in controlling the health-related costs and complications associated with the disease. This study supports the protective effect of a diet rich in olive oil and plant-based foods, but low in meat and dairy products. However, larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.