French fries, not potatoes, increase type 2 diabetes risk, a 40-year study suggests

French fries, not potatoes, are linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, a 40-year study found. Three weekly servings of french fries were associated with a 20% increased risk, while other potato preparations showed minimal risk. Replacing fries with whole grains significantly lowered this risk. The study, published in BMJ, tracked over 200,000 people and suggests cooking methods and food replacements are key factors in potato consumption and diabetes risk.