Researchers have found a connection between meat consumption and increased risk of Type 2 Diabetes. In a study published online this March in the American Journal of Epidemiology, researchers examined the dietary habits of over 200,000 people. They found that people who ate most of their protein from animal sources had a 13% higher risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. In contrast, study participants who consumed a plant based diet were at lower risk. Additionally, when participants replaced just 5% of the animal protein in their diet with vegetable protein, including legumes, potatoes, and grains, their risk of Type 2 Diabetes decreased by 23%.

This isn’t the first time a connection has been made between meat consumption and Type 2 Diabetes. In 2014, the American Diabetes Association published a study showing that eating high levels of animal protein increased the risk of diabetes among European adults. The study found no significant link between consuming plant protein and diabetes.  At the conclusion of the study, the researchers recommended limiting animal protein in the diet to prevent Type 2 Diabetes.

The incidence of Type 2 Diabetes is verging on a healthcare crisis in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 29 million Americans have diabetes, and 86 million adults have prediabetes. That means 1 in 3 Americans are prediabetic, and many of them don’t even know it. Diabetes is expensive, taking a heavy toll not only on individual’s quality of life and productivity, but on the economy as well. In 2012, the cost of diabetes in medical care and lost work was $245 million.

There is compelling evidence that plant based diets play an important role in preventing diabetes. However, cutting animal protein out of your diet doesn’t just benefit your health; it also reduces animal suffering and environmental pollution. Learn more about the benefits of a plant based diet here.

You can read more about the links of animal protein to Type 2 Diabetes here.