According to Gram Research analysis of a 2026 PLoS One study, adults with type 2 diabetes who ate a more inflammation-promoting diet had about a 24% higher chance of cardiovascular events and a 36% higher chance of death from any cause. The UK Biobank study followed 6,469 adults for about 12 years. No clear link appeared in people with prediabetes.
Researchers wanted to know whether the foods people eat affect their risk of heart problems and early death when they already have blood sugar issues. According to Gram Research analysis of a 2026 study in PLoS One, adults with type 2 diabetes who ate a more inflammation-promoting diet had a higher chance of heart-related events and death from any cause over about 12 years. The study used data from the UK Biobank, a large health database in Britain, and tracked 24,662 adults who were free of heart disease and cancer when they joined. Among people with type 2 diabetes, the diet pattern was linked to a 24% higher risk of cardiovascular events and a 36% higher risk of death from any cause. People with prediabetes did not show clear links. The findings suggest that diet quality may matter for people with diabetes, though this type of study cannot prove that diet caused these outcomes.
Key Statistics
A 2026 cohort study of 6,469 adults with type 2 diabetes in the UK Biobank found that a more inflammation-promoting diet was associated with a 36% higher chance of death from any cause over a median of 12.2 years.
In the same 2026 UK Biobank study, a more inflammation-promoting diet was associated with a 24% higher chance of cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes, among people with type 2 diabetes.
The 2026 study found no statistically significant link between inflammation-promoting diet scores and heart events or death among 18,193 adults with prediabetes.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Does eating a diet that promotes inflammation in the body raise the chance of heart problems or early death in people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes?
- Who participated: About 18,193 adults with prediabetes and 6,469 adults with type 2 diabetes from the UK Biobank, a large British health study. None had heart disease or cancer when the study began.
- Key finding: In people with type 2 diabetes, a more inflammation-promoting diet was linked to about a 24% higher chance of heart-related events and about a 36% higher chance of death from any cause. The heart-related death result was not statistically strong enough to be sure it was real. No clear links appeared in people with prediabetes.
- What it means for you: If you have type 2 diabetes, eating more whole foods and fewer highly processed, inflammation-promoting foods may support long-term heart health. This study shows an association, not proof that diet alone changes outcomes, so talk with your doctor or dietitian before making major changes.
The Research Details
This was a long-term cohort study, meaning researchers followed a large group of people over time and watched what happened to them. They used data from the UK Biobank, a database that includes health records and lifestyle information from hundreds of thousands of adults in Britain.
At the start, participants answered questions about what they ate over the previous 24 hours. Researchers used these answers to calculate a score called the energy-adjusted dietary inflammatory index, or E-DII. A higher score means the diet contained more foods that tend to increase inflammation in the body, such as certain processed meats, refined grains, and sugary drinks, while a lower score reflects foods that tend to calm inflammation, such as vegetables, fruits, and fish.
Researchers then linked each person’s records to hospital and death records. They tracked heart events and deaths for a median of 12.2 years, using statistical models that compared people with higher and lower diet scores while accounting for other factors that could affect health.
Following people over many years lets researchers see what happens over time rather than just taking a snapshot. Because the study used a very large group and long follow-up, it can reveal patterns that shorter or smaller studies might miss. However, because it observes people rather than assigning diets to them, it can show links but cannot fully prove cause and effect.
The study had a large sample, long follow-up, and used national health records to track outcomes, which strengthens its reliability. Diet was measured with a single 24-hour recall, which captures only one day and relies on memory, so it may not reflect usual eating habits. The results for heart events in people with type 2 diabetes came close to showing no effect, so they should be viewed with some caution. The paper was peer reviewed and published in PLoS One.
What the Results Show
Among people with type 2 diabetes, those with a higher inflammation-promoting diet score (above 1 on the E-DII scale) had about a 24% higher chance of cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes, compared with people whose scores were in the middle range. The range of likely values for this result was wide, from about no difference to a 53% increase, so the true effect is uncertain.
The same group also had about a 36% higher chance of dying from any cause during the study. The range for this result was also fairly wide, from about 1% to 84% higher risk, but it did not include zero, which suggests a real association is more likely than chance alone.
The link between diet and death specifically from heart disease was stronger in the numbers, with a 50% higher estimated risk, but the range was very wide, from about 24% lower to nearly three times higher. Because this range included no effect, researchers could not confirm that diet changed heart-related death rates. In people with prediabetes, the study found no clear connection between diet inflammation scores and heart events or death.
The study focused mainly on heart events and overall death, and the separate result for heart-related death was not statistically clear. Still, the pattern of higher risk in people with type 2 diabetes was consistent across the main outcomes. The lack of a clear link in people with prediabetes suggests that diet’s influence may depend on how far blood sugar problems have progressed, though the study did not directly test why this difference appeared.
Earlier research in the general population has linked more inflammatory diets to higher rates of heart disease and death. This study extends those findings by focusing on people with blood sugar disorders, who already face higher inflammation levels. Its results fit with the idea that anti-inflammatory eating patterns, like Mediterranean-style diets, may support heart health, though most prior studies have not focused specifically on diabetes.
Because this was an observational study, it can show that two things are linked but cannot prove that diet caused the differences in outcomes. People who eat more inflammatory diets may also differ in other ways, such as activity levels, smoking, income, or access to medical care, even though researchers adjusted for many of these factors.
Diet was recorded using a single 24-hour recall, which may not represent typical eating habits over years. Some outcomes, like heart-related death, had few events, which made the results less certain. The UK Biobank also mostly includes people of European ancestry, so the findings may not apply equally to all populations.
The Bottom Line
Moderate confidence: Eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and fish while limiting processed meats, sugary drinks, and refined carbohydrates may help lower heart-related risk for people with type 2 diabetes. This recommendation is consistent with broader nutrition guidance, though this single study alone does not prove that changing diet will prevent heart events or early death. Diabetes care should still include medication, blood sugar management, blood pressure control, and regular check-ups as directed by a health professional.
Adults with type 2 diabetes who want to support heart health through nutrition should pay the most attention. People with prediabetes may also find general healthy eating useful, although this study did not find clear links for them. People without diabetes or blood sugar issues should interpret these results with caution, since the study focused on a specific group. Anyone with medical conditions or who takes medication should speak with a doctor or registered dietitian before changing their diet significantly.
Diet changes can begin to affect some markers of inflammation and blood sugar within weeks to a few months, but the long-term outcomes studied here, such as heart events and death, were measured over more than a decade. Realistic expectations are that healthier eating is a gradual, long-term investment in heart health rather than a quick fix. Most people will need consistent habits over many months and years, along with regular medical care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an inflammatory diet increase heart disease risk for people with type 2 diabetes?
Research shows that among 6,469 adults with type 2 diabetes, a more inflammation-promoting diet was associated with about a 24% higher chance of cardiovascular events over roughly 12 years. The study shows an association rather than proof that diet alone causes heart problems.
What foods make a diet more inflammatory?
Diets higher in processed meats, refined grains, sugary drinks, and fried foods tend to score as more inflammatory. Diets rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, and fish tend to score lower, reflecting a more anti-inflammatory eating pattern.
Does diet affect death risk in people with prediabetes?
In a UK Biobank study of 18,193 adults with prediabetes, researchers did not find a clear link between inflammation-promoting diet scores and heart events or death. Healthy eating is still generally recommended for prediabetes, but this study did not show a measurable effect in that group.
Can changing my diet lower my risk of dying early if I have diabetes?
A 2026 study linked a more inflammation-promoting diet to a 36% higher chance of death from any cause in people with type 2 diabetes. Because this was an observational study, it cannot confirm that improving diet will lower risk, so consult your doctor before making major changes.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Log your daily servings of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and fish, and track servings of processed meats, sugary drinks, and refined snacks. Aim for a measurable goal, such as at least five servings of vegetables and fruit per day and no more than one sugary drink per day, and review your weekly averages.
- Swap one highly processed or sugary food each day for a whole-food alternative. For example, replace a sugary soft drink with water or unsweetened tea, or swap white bread for a whole-grain option. Use the app’s reminders to plan one meal per day around vegetables, beans, or fish.
- Review your food logs weekly and track progress monthly. Pair diet tracking with regular blood sugar readings, blood pressure checks, and any lab results your doctor recommends, such as HbA1c. Share summary reports with your healthcare provider at routine visits to guide adjustments over the long term.
This article summarizes an observational study that shows associations between diet and health outcomes, not proof that specific foods cause or prevent heart disease or death. It is for general information only and is not medical advice. People with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes should talk with their doctor, registered dietitian, or other healthcare provider before making changes to their diet, medications, or treatment plan.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.