Study shows a calorie-reduced Mediterranean diet significantly cuts diabetes risk. GreekReporter
A large clinical trial in Spain has found that adopting a Mediterranean diet with fewer calories, along with moderate exercise and professional support, can lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 31%.
The study suggests that lifestyle changes combining dietary adjustments and physical activity may play a powerful role in preventing diabetes, particularly among older adults struggling with weight and metabolic issues.
The research, part of the PREDIMED-Plus project, followed nearly 4,750 participants between the ages of 55 and 75 over six years. All had overweight or obesity and metabolic syndrome but no history of diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
Researchers divided them into two groups: one followed a calorie-restricted version of the Mediterranean diet supported by exercise and weight-loss guidance, while the control group followed a traditional Mediterranean diet without restrictions or activity goals.
Significant health gains from structured lifestyle changes
Results showed the intervention group not only experienced a 31% reduction in diabetes risk, but also lost an average of 3.3 kilograms (7.3 pounds) and trimmed 3.6 centimeters (1.4 inches) from their waistlines.
The control group reported modest improvements, averaging just 0.6 kilograms (1.3 pounds) of weight loss and 0.3 centimeters (0.1 inches) in waist reduction. For every 100 people who followed the structured plan, researchers estimated that three cases of type 2 diabetes were prevented.
NEW: Findings from a large, randomized trial suggest that adults who follow a #MediterraneanDiet, reduce their caloric intake, and regularly exercise can reduce their diabetes risk by 31%, compared to those who only follow a standard Mediterranean diet. This multicomponent… pic.twitter.com/qwzY3grrem
— Annals of Int Med (@AnnalsofIM) August 26, 2025
Lead investigator Miguel Ángel Martínez-González, professor at the University of Navarra and adjunct nutrition professor at Harvard, said this is the first time diabetes prevention has been demonstrated so clearly using the strongest available scientific methods.
He emphasized that widespread adoption of these manageable lifestyle changes could prevent thousands of new cases each year.
Europe’s largest nutrition trial and global impact
The PREDIMED-Plus study began in 2013 with a €2 million ($2.3 million) grant from the European Research Council. By 2016, additional support brought total funding to over €15 million ($17.5 million), primarily from Spain’s Carlos III Health Institute and the Biomedical Research Network (CIBER).
The project involved more than 200 researchers from 22 institutions and was carried out across 100 primary care centers in Spain.
Miguel Ruiz-Canela, first author of the study and chair of Preventive Medicine at the University of Navarra, explained that the combination of calorie control and physical activity enhanced the benefits of the Mediterranean diet by improving insulin response and reducing inflammation.
The International Diabetes Federation reported that over 530 million people globally have type 2 diabetes. In Spain alone, 4.7 million adults live with the condition, while Europe has more than 65 million cases. Researchers now see the Mediterranean diet as a cost-effective and sustainable strategy for large-scale diabetes prevention.
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