Eating red meat twice a week may increase type 2 diabetes risk, study finds

In the Harvard study, those who ate the most red meat had a 62% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with those who ate the least. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA

The chances of a person developing type 2 diabetes can increase even if they eat red meat just two times a week instead of an alternative option, researchers have said.

Replacing red meat with plant-based protein sources, such as nuts and legumes, may reduce the chances of developing the condition and would also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change, according to experts at Harvard University.