The number of type 2 diabetes cases around the world quadrupled between 1980 and 2014 to a total of 422 million adults, with the biggest rate increases found in Pacific Island nations, the Middle East and North Africa, according to a World Health Organization study in The Lancet. The findings, based on data from 4.4 million adults, showed no country had a meaningful decrease in diabetes prevalence, but northwestern Europe had the lowest diabetes rates for men and women.

Registered dietitian nutritionists have more opportunities to work in home health to provide nutrition therapy and patient education, assess the home environment and consult with physicians and nurses, dietitians said. RDN Sara Swiderski-Dandinidis of Dietitians at Home said home care can expand the role of a dietitian as part of the health care team to include taking blood pressure, doing finger-stick checks and running lipid panels for patients.

Raising awareness about diabetes and prediabetes is the focus of World Health Day today, as millions of people in the US who have the conditions do not know it, said registered dietitian nutritionist Jill Weisenberger. Prediabetes is a sign of long-term insulin resistance, but there are simple lifestyle changes that can prevent the progression to type 2 diabetes, Weisenberger said.

Registered dietitian Ellie Krieger said home-delivered meal kits can vary widely in calories and nutrition but do provide a way to help people control portion sizes. She said some of the companies emphasize nutrition and offer a variety of lighter options or have a dietitian review each meal.

Study data from almost 3,200 US adults who were tracked for more than 20 years linked consumption of refined carbohydrates to a higher risk of prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women, researchers reported at the American Society for Nutrition's annual meeting. The study also found men who consumed a lot of sugar-sweetened beverages were more than three times as likely as those who did not to develop prostate cancer.

A study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that 72% of children's meals in fast-food restaurants and 63% of those in sit-down restaurants had 600 calories or less, which met the recommended calorie guidelines. However, the findings, based on 2014 online nutrition information of children's meals in 20 restaurants, showed that only 32% of fast-food meal combinations and 22% of sit-down meal combinations met all recommendations for fat, saturated fat and sodium content.

People who consume about a half-cup of fresh fruit each day may have a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine that included more than 500,000 adults. Data showed the risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke was cut by about one-third for people who ate fruit every day, compared with those who rarely or never ate fruit.

Overweight or obese men with chronic insomnia less often experienced difficulty falling asleep and took less time to fall asleep after attending aerobic exercise sessions for six months, compared with the control group, researchers reported in Sleep Medicine. The findings, based on 45 overweight or obese men with at least three months of insomnia symptoms, ages 30 to 65, also showed those in the exercise group had more efficient sleep and better sleep quality, and reported fewer occasions of waking up in the night than those in the control group.

Breakfast participation at a Virginia elementary school has more than doubled since the school adopted a grab-and-go program last year. School nutrition professionals say, under the old program, some students may have been intimidated by the cafeteria or worried they would be late to class.

Make this classic dish at home! Photos & Food