The Impact of the Mediterranean Diet on Blood Glucose Control and Complications in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the intervention effects of a Mediterranean diet on glycemic control and related complications in patients with type 2 diabetes. This study systematically reviewed official data, including studies published in The Lancet, the Global Burden of Disease Study, and the 2020 Report on Nutrition and Chronic Disease Status of Chinese Residents released by the National Health Commission of China, supplemented by analyses of relevant clinical trials. This study analyzed the core characteristics of the Mediterranean diet and its effects on key glycemic markers (fasting blood glucose) and glycosylated hemoglobin and complications (cardiovascular disease and kidney disease). The Spanish PREDIMED trial, a landmark study on the Mediterranean diet, showed that this diet can increase the rate of achieving target glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c, HbA1c <7%) by 42% in patients with type 2 diabetes and reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications by 28% compared with a low - fat diet. In summary, the Mediterranean diet meets the needs of patients with type 2 diabetes, and its applicability can be further improved through local adaptation. However, more long-term research data targeting the Chinese population is needed to verify its sustained effectiveness.