A NEW study highlights how dietary habits differ across clinical subtypes of type 2 diabetes (T2D), offering fresh insight into more personalised approaches to disease management.
Researchers analysed data from 1,007 adults with T2D enrolled in the SMART2D cohort, a multi-ethnic Southeast Asian population with an average age of 61 years. Building on earlier work that identified three distinct T2D subtypes, mild age-related diabetes with insulin insufficiency (MARD-II), mild obesity-related diabetes (MOD), and severe insulin-resistant diabetes with relative insulin insufficiency (SIRD-RII), the team explored whether dietary patterns varied between these groups and how these patterns relate to diabetes-related complications.
Three Distinct Dietary Patterns Identified in T2D Cohort
Using factor analysis of 46 food groups derived from a comprehensive food frequency questionnaire, three major dietary patterns emerged: “meat, fast food and eating out,” “sugar-laden food and drinks,” and “plant-based and dairy.” Each participant was classified according to their dominant dietary pattern.
Clear differences were observed between subtypes. Individuals with MARD-II were most likely to follow a plant-based and dairy pattern, with 40% falling into this category. In contrast, participants with MOD and SIRD-RII were more likely to consume diets high in sugar-laden foods and drinks (approximately 38%), followed by meat-heavy and fast-food-oriented diets (around 31%). Statistical analysis confirmed that MOD and SIRD-RII were positively associated with less healthy dietary patterns and inversely associated with plant-based diets compared with MARD-II.
Importantly, the study also found that these dietary patterns were linked to differing risks of comorbidities within each subtype. Diets high in sugar and processed foods, as well as those characterised by frequent eating out and meat consumption, were associated with poorer health outcomes, particularly among individuals with MOD and SIRD-RII.
Implications for Personalised Management of Type 2 Diabetes
The findings underscore the heterogeneity of T2D and suggest that dietary behaviours are not uniform across patient groups. This has important clinical implications, as it supports the need for more tailored nutritional interventions based on diabetes subtype rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Overall, the study provides evidence that aligning dietary recommendations with specific T2D subtypes could improve management strategies and reduce the burden of complications in diverse populations.
Reference
Moh MC et al. Distinct dietary patterns across type 2 diabetes subtypes: Insights from the SMART2D cohort. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2026; DOI:10.1038/s41430-026-01753-y
Featured image: bondarillia on Adobe Stock
