What to Know About Dairy and Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) affects the lives of more than 30 million American adults and accounts for 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. A growing body of research indicates that eating dairy foods is associated with multiple health benefits, including a reduced risk of T2D.

Dairy foods such as milk, cheese and yogurt are foundational foods in healthy dietary patterns. The dairy group contributes important shortfall nutrients, including calcium, vitamin D and potassium to the American diet. Low-fat and fat-free dairy foods are part of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommendations for healthy dietary patterns for Americans 2 years and older.

You can download our full report, “Science Summary: Type 2 Diabetes,” which provides further support for consuming dairy foods as recommended in the 2020 DGA, and offers an overview of studies conducted since 2015 on the links between dairy food consumption and T2D.

For further reading:

Does Eating Dairy Foods Lower Your Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes And High Blood Pressure?

Dairy Fat Might Help Reduce Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes

New Research Indicates A Link Between Yogurt And Reduced Diabetes Risk