Many factors can contribute to your risk of type 2 diabetes, which occurs when there is a problem with the way your body regulates or uses insulin. Common risk factors include age, a family history of diabetes, being obese or overweight, leading a sedentary lifestyle, and eating unhealthy. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with the help of lifestyle changes, which include maintaining a healthy weight, eating nutrient-dense diet, and exercising regularly.
Interestingly, a new study has found that drinking a specific type of tea can reduce your risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Also Read: New Study Reveals Types Of Tea That Are Effective Against COVID's Omicron Subvariant
Study Findings
The new research, conducted by the University of Adelaide, Australia, and SouthEast University, China, found that drinking tea, particularly dark tea, everyday, may help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes by improving their blood glucose levels and decreasing insulin resistance.
The observational study was presented at this year’s Annual Meeting of The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), Hamburg. It involved 1,923 adults, of which 436 were living with diabetes, 352 had prediabetes, and 1,135 had normal blood glucose levels. The cohort comprised 1000 habitual tea drinkers, who drank different types of tea. 300 participants reported drinking green tea, 125 black tea, 521 dark tea, and 54 people drank other types of tea. All drank their tea without milk or sugar.
The researchers examined the association between the frequency and type of tea consumption and the excretion of glucose in the urine, which they assessed with the help of a urine glucose-to-creatinine ratio (UGCR).
They also looked for insulin resistance and recorded glycaemic status, which meant a history of type 2 diabetes, current use of antidiabetic medications, or an abnormal 75g oral glucose tolerance test.
Co-lead author and associate professor Tongzhi Wu said, "Our findings hint at the protective effects of habitual tea drinking on blood sugar management via increased glucose excretion in urine, improved insulin resistance and thus better control of blood sugar. These benefits were most pronounced among daily dark tea drinkers.”
It was found that people who drank tea everyday excreted more glucose in the urine and had reduced insulin resistance. It was established that drinking tea slashed down 15% of prediabetes risk and 28% of type 2 diabetes risk.
“We believe habitual tea consumption, particularly dark tea, is beneficial for reducing the risk of prediabetes and diabetes. Our study suggested that these benefits may be related to increased urinary glucose excretion and improved insulin sensitivity," Wu added.
What Is Dark Tea?
Dark tea is among the six major tea categories in China, which is the only one to go through microbial fermentation in the manufacturing process, contributing to the unique flavours and functions of the tea.
According to MedicalNewsToday, dark tea comprises Qingzhuan brick tea, Kangzhuan brick tea, Liubao tea, and Ripen Pu-erh tea.
What's fascinating about dark tea is that it does not have a bitter taste or grassy smell. It may not even seem like tea when you first try it.
Diabetes Prevalence Makes It Concerning
According to a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health, type 2 diabetes currently affects around 46.2 crore people worldwide.
In India, the burden of type 2 diabetes is around 7.7 crore, which makes it second for having the highest number of diabetes patients in the world, following China, says a study published Journal BMC Public Health.
Such alarming data makes it even more important to be aware of things that can help reduce the risk of the disease. As mentioned earlier, lifestyle changes can work wonders when it comes to lowering your risk and preventing the condition.