Scientists found a smarter Mediterranean diet that slashes diabetes risk by 31%

A Mediterranean-style diet combined with modest calorie reduction, regular moderate exercise, and professional weight-loss support lowered the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The PREDIMED-Plus trial followed 4,746 adults aged 55 to 75 with overweight or obesity and metabolic syndrome, with no diabetes or cardiovascular disease at baseline. Participants were monitored for six years to assess whether a more intensive Mediterranean-based lifestyle plan provided stronger protection against type 2 diabetes than standard approaches. The trial reported a 31% reduction in diabetes risk. The study was conducted across more than 100 primary care centers within Spain’s National Health System and involved multiple Spanish universities, hospitals, and research centers.

"PREDIMED-Plus began in 2013 after the University of Navarra received an Advanced Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) worth more than €2 million. Between 2014 and 2016, additional institutions joined, bringing total funding to more than 15 million euros. Most of that support came from the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII) and the Center for Biomedical Research Network through its areas of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP) and Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases (CIBERDEM)."

"The results, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, were based on 4,746 adults between ages 55 and 75. All had overweight or obesity and metabolic syndrome, but none had diabetes or cardiovascular disease at the start of the study. Researchers followed participants for six years to see whether a more intensive Mediterranean based lifestyle plan could offer stronger protection against type 2 diabetes tha"

"A Mediterranean diet is already famous for its heart and metabolic benefits. But a major Spanish clinical trial suggests it may work even better against type 2 diabetes when paired with three realistic upgrades: eating fewer calories, moving more, and getting professional support for weight loss. The PREDIMED-Plus trial found that this more structured version of Mediterranean living reduced the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 31%."

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