A study has shown that consuming a large amount of highly processed foods raises blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes.

Professor Mary Steinharte's team at the University of Texas at Austin conducted a study on 273 diabetes patients to examine the impact of diet quality and food processing level on blood sugar control. Participants provided detailed information about their food and beverage intake over 24 hours on one weekday and one weekend day. Subsequently, the research team collected blood samples from the participants to compare and analyze hemoglobin A1c levels.

 

Analysis results showed that the higher the proportion of ultra-processed foods relative to body weight, the poorer the blood sugar control. Conversely, the higher the proportion of minimally processed foods such as natural foods or unprocessed foods, the better the blood sugar regulation. For participants not receiving insulin therapy, every 10% increase in the proportion of ultra-processed foods in the overall diet was associated with an average increase of 0.28 percentage points in HbA1c levels.

 

Conversely, for every 10% increase in the proportion of minimally processed or unprocessed foods, the HbA1c level was found to decrease by an average of 0.3 percentage points. The ideal HbA1c level for diabetic patients is below 7, and the research team explained that people who consume ultra-processed foods at an average of less than 18% of their total food intake are more likely to achieve this level.

The research team stated, "The degree of food processing, rather than diet quality, was related to blood sugar control," and added, "Further research is needed to understand how ultra-processed foods affect blood sugar regulation."

 

Meanwhile, ultra-processed foods refer to items such as hamburgers, snacks, and convenience foods (instant foods).

 

It is characterized by high calories due to a large amount of sugar, fat, and sodium, with low protein and dietary fiber.

Ultra-processed foods not only cause brain diseases but also trigger various cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Consuming ultra-processed foods and gaining weight can lead to obesity, which may soon progress to diabetes and hypertension.

 

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Wow~~~ It's not something I eat every day, but

I ate a hamburger today, but

Why does it feel so stabbing?

 

It's not processed food, and it's a hamburger.

Was it a highly processed food?