Junk food strikes again — this time in type 1 diabetes. A new Italian study found that higher ultraprocessed food (UPF) intake was linked to higher triglycerides and lower HDL ("good") cholesterol in adults with T1D. Processed meats and sweetened beverages were the biggest culprits, while ready-to-eat meals were tied to poorer blood sugar control in patients on certain insulin regimens.
Ultraprocessed foods are making lipid profiles worse in type 1 diabetes
A new cross-sectional study out of Italy adds to the growing case against ultraprocessed foods (UPFs), this time in adults living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Researchers found that higher UPF consumption was independently associated with an atherogenic lipid profile — meaning higher triglycerides and lower HDL cholesterol — raising cardiovascular risk concerns for this already vulnerable population.
The study analyzed dietary data from 253 adults with T1D (mean age ~39 years, average diabetes duration 22 years) using continuous glucose monitoring. Processed meats were linked to lower HDL cholesterol, while sugar- and artificially sweetened beverages drove up triglyceride levels. Ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat dishes were also associated with higher A1c levels in patients on multiple daily injections or open-loop insulin therapy.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: For clinicians managing T1D, these findings reinforce the importance of targeted nutritional counseling — especially around processed meats and soft drinks — as part of cardiovascular risk reduction strategies.
