The Diet and Diabetes: A Focus on the Challenges and Opportunities within the Stroke Belt Dietary Pattern

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus, the most common type of endocrine disorder, globally affects over 400 million individuals and is steadily rising. Cultural and environmental norms that embrace or facilitate the lack of consistency in diet, lifestyle and behavioral patterns that promote health have inadvertently promoted and sustained a diabetogenic environment. Dietary patterns plentiful in processed foods, refined grains, sugar, sodium, fat and calories, coupled with modern conveniences that commission sedentary lifestyles have noticeably contributed to the diabetes epidemic as well. Like other chronic diet-related diseases, modifications of dietary intake and consumption patterns are necessary for diabetes prevention. Unfortunately, many modifiable and non-modifiable factors may hinder an individual's ability to obtain an optimal diet for disease prevention and health promotion. This includes, but is not limited to, lack of access to affordable, nutrient-dense foods, geographical location, built environment and demographic characteristics. A prime example of this can be seen in the southeastern region of the United States known as the Stroke Belt, which exhibits exceptionally higher than national average prevalence rates of cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes and accompanying disparities in health. Major challenges to the dietary pattern of the Stroke Belt are food consumption behaviors and preparation methods. Promising opportunities with this dietary pattern are the presence of foods, rich in antioxidants and other bioactive compounds, which may reduce the inflammation and oxidative damage associated with disease pathogenesis.