How Different Food Additives Affect Diabetes

Research shows that a diet containing 18 percent or fewer grams of ultra-additive-packed processed foods could protect against diabetes.

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While ultra-processed foods, including chips, diet sodas, and main dish products, such as fish sticks, may not be healthy as part of a regular diet for anyone, they pose a unique problem for people with Type 2 diabetes.

A study of African American populations in Austin, Texas, found that ultra-processed foods were associated with high blood sugar (glucose) levels over the course of months.