Scientists studied over 9,000 people in Sweden to find proteins in the blood that might cause type 2 diabetes. They discovered 112 proteins linked to diabetes risk and identified 11 proteins that appear to directly cause diabetes or protect against it. Some proteins increased diabetes risk, while others seemed protective. The researchers also found that eating a healthy diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains may work partly by changing these protective proteins in your body. These findings could help doctors develop new ways to prevent type 2 diabetes before it starts.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether certain proteins in the blood cause type 2 diabetes and whether eating healthy foods changes these proteins to protect against diabetes
  • Who participated: Over 9,000 Swedish adults (mostly women in the first group, both men and women in the second group) who were followed for several years to see who developed type 2 diabetes
  • Key finding: Researchers found 11 specific proteins that appear to directly cause or prevent type 2 diabetes. Some proteins like TYRO3 and SORT1 increased diabetes risk, while others like NECTIN2 and a protein called FGF21 appeared protective. These proteins may explain why healthy eating helps prevent diabetes.
  • What it means for you: These findings suggest that in the future, doctors might be able to measure these proteins to predict diabetes risk or develop new treatments targeting these proteins. However, this research is still early-stage, and you should continue following standard diabetes prevention advice like eating healthy foods and exercising.

The Research Details

This was a cohort study, which means researchers followed the same group of people over time and tracked what happened to them. Scientists measured 276 different proteins in the blood of over 9,000 Swedish adults at the start of the study. They then watched these people for several years to see who developed type 2 diabetes. They used statistical methods to figure out which proteins were connected to diabetes risk, even after accounting for other factors like age, sex, and lifestyle habits.

To prove that proteins actually caused diabetes (rather than just being associated with it), the researchers used a special technique called Mendelian randomization. This method uses genetic information to determine if a protein truly causes disease. They looked at genetic variations that naturally affect protein levels and checked if these variations also affected diabetes risk. This approach is stronger than just observing associations because it helps rule out other explanations.

The researchers also examined whether eating a healthy diet works by changing these protective proteins in the body. They analyzed different eating patterns and tested whether proteins could explain the connection between diet and diabetes prevention.

This research matters because most previous studies only showed that certain proteins were associated with diabetes, without proving they actually caused it. By using genetic methods, this study provides stronger evidence that these proteins truly play a role in diabetes development. Understanding which proteins cause diabetes could lead to new treatments that target these specific proteins rather than just managing blood sugar. Additionally, discovering how healthy eating works through these proteins could help doctors give better personalized advice about diet for diabetes prevention.

This study has several strengths: it included a large number of participants, followed them over time, measured many proteins, and used advanced genetic methods to prove causality. The findings were tested in two separate groups of people to confirm the results were reliable. However, most participants were women, so results may not apply equally to men. The study was also conducted in Sweden, so results might differ in other populations with different genetics or diets. The researchers used strict statistical methods to avoid false findings, which increases confidence in the results.

What the Results Show

The researchers identified 112 proteins that were associated with type 2 diabetes risk when looking at the entire study population. However, when they used genetic methods to determine which proteins actually caused diabetes, they found a smaller group of 11 proteins with strong causal evidence. Four proteins increased diabetes risk: TYRO3, ICAM2, SORT1, and sialomucin core protein 24. Seven proteins appeared protective: catechol O-methyltransferase, CD2-associated protein, matrix metalloproteinase-12, NECTIN2, RTN4R, FGF21, and another protein.

Three of these proteins (NECTIN2, RTN4R, and SORT1) showed particularly strong evidence of shared genetic causes with type 2 diabetes, meaning the same genetic variations that affect these proteins also affect diabetes risk. This suggests these proteins are central to how diabetes develops.

When the researchers looked at eating patterns, they found that a healthy diet pattern (high in vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains) was associated with lower diabetes risk. Importantly, they discovered that some of the protective proteins appeared to explain part of this protective effect. In other words, eating healthy foods may help prevent diabetes partly by increasing these protective proteins in the blood.

The study also examined whether these protein-related genes affected other diabetes-related traits beyond just diabetes diagnosis. They found that the genes affecting these proteins were also associated with other important markers like fasting blood sugar levels and insulin resistance. This confirms that these proteins are involved in the biological processes that lead to diabetes. The researchers also noted that different dietary patterns had different effects on protein levels, suggesting that diet can influence these protective proteins.

Previous research has identified many proteins associated with type 2 diabetes, but most studies couldn’t prove whether these proteins actually caused diabetes or were just markers of the disease. This study goes further by using genetic methods to establish causality, which is a stronger level of evidence. The finding that healthy diet works partly through these proteins builds on previous research showing that diet is important for diabetes prevention, but now provides a biological mechanism explaining how diet works. The specific proteins identified here are mostly new discoveries for diabetes causation, though some (like FGF21) have been studied before.

The study has several important limitations to consider. First, most participants were women, so the findings may not apply equally to men. Second, the study was conducted in Sweden with people of European ancestry, so results might differ in other populations with different genetic backgrounds or dietary habits. Third, while the genetic methods are strong, they can only identify proteins that have genetic variations affecting them; proteins without genetic variation couldn’t be studied. Fourth, the study shows associations between diet and proteins, but doesn’t prove that changing diet will actually change these protein levels in individuals. Finally, even though researchers identified causal proteins, it may take many years before this knowledge leads to new treatments or prevention strategies.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, the strongest recommendation is to continue following standard diabetes prevention advice: eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains; maintain a healthy weight; and exercise regularly. This study provides additional scientific support for these recommendations by showing how healthy eating may work at the biological level. However, these findings are still research-level, and there are no new specific actions to take based on this study alone. If you have a family history of diabetes or are at risk, discuss with your doctor about diabetes screening and prevention strategies. Do not attempt to self-test for these proteins or change medications based on this research.

This research is most relevant for people at risk of type 2 diabetes, including those with family history, overweight individuals, and people over 45. Healthcare providers and researchers should pay attention to these findings for developing future treatments. People already diagnosed with type 2 diabetes may find this interesting but should focus on their current treatment plan. This research is less immediately relevant for people with low diabetes risk, though the dietary recommendations apply to everyone.

If you make dietary changes based on these findings, you would not expect to see changes in these specific proteins for several weeks to months. However, other benefits of healthy eating (like weight loss or improved blood sugar) might appear within weeks to months. Any new treatments targeting these proteins are likely years away from being available. This is long-term prevention research, not a quick fix.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily servings of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains consumed, aiming for at least 5 servings of vegetables and fruits combined, plus 1 ounce of nuts or whole grains daily. Log these in your nutrition app to monitor adherence to the protective dietary pattern identified in this research.
  • Focus on increasing consumption of the specific foods mentioned in the healthy dietary pattern: add an extra vegetable to lunch, include berries or fruit as snacks, incorporate nuts into meals, and switch to whole grain bread and cereals. Use the app to set daily reminders for these food categories.
  • Track your dietary pattern consistency weekly and correlate it with other health metrics you may be monitoring (weight, energy levels, blood sugar if applicable). Over months, you can assess whether consistent adherence to this dietary pattern correlates with improvements in your overall health markers. Share this data with your healthcare provider during check-ups.

This research identifies proteins that may play a role in type 2 diabetes development and suggests that healthy eating patterns may work through these proteins. However, this is early-stage research, and no new treatments or diagnostic tests based on these findings are currently available. This information should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent type 2 diabetes. If you have concerns about diabetes risk or have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, consult with your healthcare provider for personalized medical advice. Continue following your doctor’s recommendations for diabetes prevention and management. Do not make changes to medications or treatment plans based on this research without discussing with your healthcare provider.