A specific type of fat found in milk and cheese is linked to a much lower chance of getting type 2 diabetes, possibly because it helps the body use insulin better.

A fat called trans-palmitoleic acid was once thought to protect against diabetes, but when scientists accounted for other similar fats in dairy, the link disappeared — meaning the earlier belief was probably wrong.

A specific type of fat found naturally in dairy products is linked to a much lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, even though people don’t eat much of it.

The artificial trans fats found in fried foods and margarine don’t seem to raise the risk of type 2 diabetes when looked at on their own, which surprises many people who think all trans fats are bad.

People with more of a specific fat found in dairy products like butter and cheese in their blood have a lower chance of getting type 2 diabetes, even after accounting for how much dairy they eat.