Even when researchers looked at different groups of people, different ways of measuring diet, or different countries, eating more leafy greens still seemed to be linked to lower diabetes risk, which makes the finding more reliable.

People who eat more leafy greens like spinach and kale tend to have a lower chance of getting type 2 diabetes, according to studies tracking thousands of adults over many years.

Leafy greens might help prevent diabetes because they contain good nutrients like magnesium and antioxidants that help your body use insulin better and fight cell damage.

Eating more vegetables like carrots or broccoli doesn't appear to lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a review of five large studies tracking thousands of adults over many years.

People who eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day — as estimated by blood tests — have about a one-third lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who eat less.

Adding a little more fruit and veggies to your diet helps a lot if you’re eating little now — but adding even more beyond that doesn’t help as much.