How to lower your diabetes risk with simple daily habits
The Association Between Composite Healthy Lifestyle Score and Type 2 Diabetes Risk in the Korean Population: The Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
A plant-based diet was more protective than exercise, weight control, or not smoking in this population.
Western studies often highlight physical activity or BMI as the top factors, but here, diet dominated—even in a population with lower obesity rates than the West.
Practical Takeaways
Start by adding one plant-rich meal per day—like lentils, brown rice, or stir-fried veggies—instead of meat or processed carbs.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
A plant-based diet was more protective than exercise, weight control, or not smoking in this population.
Western studies often highlight physical activity or BMI as the top factors, but here, diet dominated—even in a population with lower obesity rates than the West.
Practical Takeaways
Start by adding one plant-rich meal per day—like lentils, brown rice, or stir-fried veggies—instead of meat or processed carbs.
Publication
Journal
Nutrients
Year
2026
Authors
Daeyun Kim, Minji Kang, Dongmin Kim, Ju-Young Park, Jihye Kim
Related Content
Claims (5)
People in Korea who follow more healthy habits—like not smoking, exercising, eating well, and maintaining a healthy weight—are less likely to get type 2 diabetes. The more good habits they have, the lower their risk.
People in Korea who followed five healthy habits—like not smoking, exercising daily, drinking alcohol in moderation, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating mostly plant-based foods—were 56% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes over nearly 18 years than those who followed few or none of these habits.
People who live healthier lives—like eating well and exercising—are less likely to get type 2 diabetes, especially if they’re not already taking medicine for it. This suggests that healthy habits might work better to prevent diabetes than to control it after you already have it.
People in Korea who live healthier lives—like eating well, exercising, and not smoking—are less likely to get type 2 diabetes, no matter their age, gender, family history, or where they live.
People in Korea who eat a lot of healthy plant foods like vegetables, beans, and whole grains are less likely to get type 2 diabetes than others—and this way of eating is the biggest protective factor compared to other lifestyle choices.