New research suggests that a diet rich in potassium could protect the heart and kidney health of patients with type 2 diabetes.

Individuals with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of developing kidney failure and heart disease. They are actually common life-threatening complications of diabetes.

"For many individuals with diabetes, the most challenging part of a treatment plan is to determine what to eat. The results in our study highlight the importance of a diet high in diabetes nutrition therapy," researcher Dr. Shin-ichi Araki of Shiga University of Medical Science said in a statement.

Japanese researchers collected and analyzed data from more than 600 patients with type 2 diabetes and normal kidney function to examine whether higher intake sodium and potassium are associated with these risks. Patients were enrolled between 1996 and 2003 and were followed-up until 2013.

They found that higher levels of urinary potassium excretion, which closely correlate with intake amounts, were linked with a slower decline of kidney function and a lower incidence of cardiovascular complications among patients with type 2 diabetes and normal kidney function. Sodium levels were not associated with kidney or heart health during follow-up.

The findings will appear in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN).