Australian study links home gardens and nearby parks to lower risk of type 2 diabetes

Having a home garden or living close to several parks may reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new Australian study that highlights the importance of incorporating green spaces into urban planning.

Researchers found that people with a sizeable home garden had a 6.8% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those without one. Living near multiple parks was also associated with a 5.7% lower risk of the disease, Australia's University of Queensland (UQ) said on Thursday.

The findings, published in the journal BMC Public Health, suggest that public health should be a key consideration as cities become increasingly dense and residential developments continue to expand.

Lead author Chinonso Odebeatu from UQ's School of Public Health said the results emphasize the need to preserve and create accessible green spaces despite growing housing pressures and higher-density urban development.

The study analyzed data from more than 19,000 participants in the UK Biobank with type 2 diabetes and evaluated the amount of green space surrounding their homes, including private gardens and parks located within an 800-meter radius.

According to the researchers, home gardens and nearby parks may help lower diabetes risk by promoting physical activity, increasing exposure to sunlight and vitamin D, and supporting better mental health. Spending more time outdoors may also improve gut health and strengthen the immune system through greater exposure to beneficial environmental microbes.

The researchers noted that diabetes affects more than 500 million people worldwide, with the global number of cases expected to reach 1.31 billion by 2050.

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