A minimalist image showing four ultra-processed foods: a plain bag of salty snacks, processed sausage, a ready-to-eat meal, and a bottle of sweetened soda, highlighted by Scott Keatley, RD, as linked to a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes.

These 4 Ultra-Processed Foods Raise Your Diabetes Risk More Than Others, According to a New Study

Scott Keatley, RD, co-owner of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy, explains that ultra-processed foods are highly altered from their natural state and often contain ingredients you wouldn't typically use in home cooking, such as preservatives and artificial colors. He highlights the four categories of ultra-processed foods that are most strongly linked to a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes:

Savory Snacks: High in unhealthy fats, salt, and refined carbohydrates, these snacks contribute to insulin resistance and inflammation.

Ultra-Processed Meats: Meats like bacon and sausage contain sodium and preservatives that increase inflammation and insulin resistance.

Ready-to-Eat Meals: These meals often lack fiber and essential nutrients while being high in saturated fat and sodium, promoting overeating and disrupting glucose metabolism.

Sweetened Drinks: Both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages raise the risk of diabetes, with added sugar leading to inflammation and artificial sweeteners potentially disrupting gut microbiota.

Keatley advises cutting back on ultra-processed foods and focusing on whole, minimally processed alternatives for better health.