Daily consumption of a prevalent beverage could enhance the likelihood of type 2 diabetes by 38%, according to recent research.
In a groundbreaking study, researchers from Australia have found a strong connection between the daily consumption of artificially sweetened soft drinks and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The study, which falls under the categories of Health, News, Education, Science, and Food and Drink, followed over 36,000 Australians aged 40-69 for an average of 14 years. The results suggest that drinking just one artificially sweetened soft drink per day is associated with a 38% higher risk of type 2 diabetes. This risk is higher than the 23% increase observed for regular sugar-sweetened soft drinks.
The association between artificially sweetened beverage intake and increased diabetes risk persisted even after accounting for body weight, indicating that artificial sweeteners may impact diabetes risk through mechanisms beyond obesity. Proposed biological mechanisms include artificial sweeteners interfering with blood sugar regulation, possibly by altering the gut microbiome and impairing glucose tolerance within weeks.
The study, conducted in collaboration with Monash University, RMIT University, and the Cancer Council Victoria, challenges the idea that diet sodas are a safe alternative to sugary beverages. Professor Barbora de Courten, senior author on the study, stated that the results imply that artificial sweeteners may have their own health risks.
While weight, fitness, and age play a factor in developing type 2 diabetes, what you eat and drink also plays a role. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that 90 to 95 percent of the 38 million Americans with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. The CDC also suggests that type 2 diabetes can be prevented, unlike type 1 diabetes.
Common symptoms of type 2 diabetes include thirst, more urination, more hunger, weight loss, tiredness, blurred vision, slow-healing sores, frequent infections, numbing or tingling in the hands or feet, and areas of darkened skin. The CDC warns that more younger people than ever are now getting type 2 diabetes compared to previous years.
People aged over 45, being overweight, having a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes, and being physically active less than three times a week are at risk of getting type 2 diabetes. The exact causes of type 1 diabetes, which is often diagnosed in childhood, remain unknown.
In light of these findings, it is crucial for individuals at risk of type 2 diabetes to exercise caution in their consumption of artificially sweetened drinks. While weight, fitness, and age play a factor in developing type 2 diabetes, what you eat and drink also plays a role. The study indicates that consuming one drink a day can increase the risk of getting type 2 diabetes by 38 percent.
- The connection between daily consumption of artificially sweetened soft drinks and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes has been established in a groundbreaking study.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that a large percentage of Americans with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, and the CDC suggests that this condition can be prevented.
- The results of the study suggest that consuming one artificially sweetened soft drink per day can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes by 38 percent.
- Proposed biological mechanisms for the increased diabetes risk include artificial sweeteners interfering with blood sugar regulation and possibly altering the gut microbiome.
