Analyzing the Relationship Between Dietary Habits and the Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in Vegetarian Population

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a growing public health concern globally, with limited research on the incidence and dietary risk factors among vegetarian populations, particularly regarding the role of specific plant food groups.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the relationship between dietary habits—including fruit, vegetable, legume, and whole grain intake—and the prevalence of T2D in vegetarian adults, with a focus on identifying protective and risk factors.
Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among vegetarian adults (n = 200; aged 18–65) in urban and rural Sindh, Pakistan. Inclusion criteria required at least six months of self-reported vegetarianism; those with type 1 diabetes, severe unrelated medical conditions, or pregnancy were excluded. Data collection involved validated food frequency questionnaires, 24-hour dietary recalls, anthropometric assessments, and clinical verification of diabetes via fasting blood glucose or HbA1c. Ethical approval was obtained from the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology University ethics board, in line with the Helsinki Declaration. Data were analyzed using SPSS v29.0, with logistic regression adjusting for confounders.
Results: The prevalence of T2D was 6%, increasing with age and BMI (p = 0.004, p = 0.009, respectively). Lower intake of legumes and whole grains was independently associated with higher odds of T2D (adjusted OR per serving: 0.79, p = 0.021; 0.83, p = 0.033). Physical activity also declined with age, paralleling an upward BMI trend.
Conclusion: In vegetarians, higher consumption of legumes and whole grains may lower T2D risk, while reduced intake and physical inactivity increase susceptibility, highlighting the clinical need for dietary diversity and sustained lifestyle interventions in diabetes prevention.