Is there a Relation between Dairy and Diabetes?

There have been debates about the negative effects dairy can have on health, and one of the most common topics is whether the type of fat found in foods with dairy cause an increased risk for type 2 diabetes. Dairy products are high in fat, specifically in saturated fat, which is a major contributor to obesity. On the other hand, many believe that certain dairy products such as fermented yogurt actually may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes or at least not have an effect on the risk of developing it. Dieticians recommend limiting saturated fat intake by 10% of the total amount of calories consumed, which is about 20 grams of saturated fat per day for the majority of people. To put this into perspective, a single ounce of cheese has about 8 grams of saturated fat. Studies performed to see if there is a connection between dairy and diabetes have been inconclusive because they don’t take into account the types of dairy people are consuming.However, results from several studies do indicate that low-fat dairy consumption has a slight decrease in risk for type 2 diabetes. Specifically, it was found that a quality, low-fat, fermented yogurt was the most beneficial. The other side of dairy proponents say that quality full-fat dairy products like cream, yogurt, and cheese lower type 2 diabetes risk. A study from Framingham Heart Offspring found that those who consumed low-fat and high-fat dairy products reduced risk of prediabetes by 25%-39%. While studies like this did find these results, it is still not clear what dairy products are the best. Due to this unclarity, the dietary guidelines for dairy consumption say that 3 servings per day of low-fat or fat-free dairy products, especially fermented yogurts like kefir, are optimal.