Mixed
Frequent consumption of processed meat (≥5 servings/week) is associated with a significantly higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to low consumption (<1 serving/month), independent of BMI and other lifestyle factors.
If you eat processed meats like bacon, hot dogs, or sausages frequently (5 or more times a week), your risk of developing type 2 diabetes is about 46% higher than if you eat them rarely. The study suggests this risk is specific to processed meats, not unprocessed red meat or poultry. To lower your risk, consider reducing the frequency of processed meat consumption rather than eliminating meat entirely.
Frequent consumption of processed meat was associated with a higher risk for type 2 diabetes (RR 1.46, CI 1.14 –1.86 for ≥5/week vs. ≤1/month, P for trend <0.0001).
Why this rating
Large prospective cohort (42,504 men), long follow-up (12 years), rigorous adjustment for confounders, but observational design prevents causal inference.
Source
Dietary Fat and Meat Intake in Relation to Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Men
Rob M. van Dam et al. · Diabetes Care · 2002
DOI 10.2337/diacare.25.3.417
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