By
Jenny Hope
16:58 EST, 24 April 2013
|
02:08 EST, 25 April 2013
The risk of diabetes rose by as much as 22 per cent for every can of drink consumed per day
Drinking one can of soft drink a day can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes by a fifth, scientists warn.
A major study found the risk rose by as much as 22 per cent for every 12oz serving of sugar-sweetened drink – a typical can – consumed per day.
Soft drinks have previously been linked with weight gain and obesity – a well-known trigger for type 2 diabetes – but researchers say the effect goes beyond body weight and may be caused by an increase in insulin resistance.
The study of almost 30,000 people living in eight European countries, including Britain, follows US research which made near-identical findings. Scientists at Imperial College London wanted to determine whether the link held good in Europe, where soft drinks are less popular than in America.
Professor Nick Wareham, of the Medical Research Council’s epidemiology unit, who oversaw the study, said it was more evidence that people should be cautious about the amount of sugary soft drink they consumed.
He said: ‘This finding adds to growing global literature suggesting that there is a link between consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, obesity and risk of development of type 2 diabetes.
‘This observation suggests that consumption of these beverages should be limited as part of an overall healthy diet.’
Researchers found that the risk of type 2 diabetes rose 22 per cent for people having one 12oz (336ml) serving of sugar-sweetened soft drink a day compared with those not having any. For those having two soft drinks, it rose a further 22 per cent over those having one drink.
The number of Britons diagnosed with diabetes hit three million this year for the first time – almost one in 20 of the population.
Type 2 diabetes is strongly linked to lifestyle factors such as being overweight or obese, leading a sedentary lifestyle and an unhealthy diet.
It occurs when the body gradually loses
the ability to process blood sugar, leading to high levels which can
damage body organs and result in years of ill-health.
The latest study used data on
consumption of juices and nectars, sugar-sweetened soft drinks and
artificially sweetened soft drinks. It involved 12,403 people with type 2
diabetes and 16,154 without diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is linked to obesity, sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets – there is a link between consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, obesity and risk of development of type 2 diabetes
The researchers, led by Dr Dora Romaguera, said a possible reason for the link could be the effect of sugar-sweetened drinks on insulin resistance.
Type 2 diabetes is frequently preceded by an increase in insulin resistance, where the body becomes insensitive to the effects of insulin resulting in high blood sugar levels.
Dr Romaguera said: ‘Given the increase in sweet beverage consumption in Europe, clear messages on the unhealthy effect of these drinks should be given to the population.’
Consumption of pure fruit juice and nectar drinks was not implicated in rising diabetes, although the study could not separate out the effect of 100 per cent pure juices from those with added sugars.
Dr Matthew Hobbs, of Diabetes UK, said: ‘The large number of people involved in this study means this finding is extremely unlikely to have happened by chance.’
Gavin Partington, of the British Soft Drinks Association, said: ‘It is well known that diabetes is the result of many different factors, including obesity and family history.
‘Soft drinks are safe to consume but, like all other food and drink, should be consumed in moderation.’ The study was published in Diabetologia, the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.
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Sadly, so many people are addicted to sugar, salt and all the other nasties added to processed and junk food and drink. Such addiction to unhealthy food and drink can lead to illness and indeed very serious illnesses.
RW
,
LONDON, United Kingdom,
25/4/2013 10:00
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A major study found the risk rose by as much as 22 per cent for every 12oz serving of sugar-sweetened drink ¿ a typical can ¿ consumed per day.
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So based on this you’re saying that if I have 5 soft drinks during any one 24 hour period I’m going to get type 2 diabetes? What scare mongering rot!
Waylander101
,
Broadstairs, United Kingdom,
25/4/2013 10:00
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All these studies will not make one bit of difference until you actually have type 2 then you check all you shopping and its a nightmare to avoid.
Type 2 sufferer….now under control via diet.
pygar
,
Chesterfield, United Kingdom,
25/4/2013 09:55
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I’d rather risk that than the links between cancer and artificial sweeteners.
I was recently told I had diabetes and was asked what I had to drink. I explained I have 3 cups of decaff coffee a day (of which I only manage to drink around a quarter of each cupful) one can of fizzy pop a week, and otherwise I drink water with plenty of ice (yes, even in the middle of winter). The dietitian’s response? “You’re going to have to cut out fizzy drinks altogetherâ€. Well, if I want one can of fizzy drink once a week, I will, and sod what anyone else thinks!
sd
,
uk, United Kingdom,
25/4/2013 09:53
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Does this mean that if you have sugar in your tea and coffee, and have 5 or 6 cups a day (which I do, only 1 spoonful), that you are doubling your risk of diabetes? I am seriously going to have to think about cutting down.
Diabetes is a horrible disease. My brother was diagnosed with it about 6 years ago. At the time he was also diagnosed with high cholesterol, and he took medication for both these conditions. He died of severe cardiovascular heart disease 18 months ago – it was so sudden and unexpected. Apparently, diabetes can mask the symptoms of heart disease and his heart had become very enlarged. He’d been a long distance wagon driver, driving mainly abroad, and it had been difficult for him to attend clinics on a regular basis, but if you are a sufferer please try to have all your regular check ups.
Lost
,
Used to be a great country, United Kingdom,
25/4/2013 09:51
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Not just drinks, sugar is pumped into our wholemeal bread, tomato and pasta sauces, processed meats, beans, coleslaw, mayonaise, mustard, cerials etc..etc…Practically everything!! It is very hard to avoid it. I agree with another poster, SOMETHING HAS to be done about it!
Nancy
,
London,
25/4/2013 09:39
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Sugary drinks are still 10X better than their artificial sweetend alternatives
Alex
,
Coventry, United Kingdom,
25/4/2013 09:36
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“HFCS is in more than just cans of fizzy pop. It’s used because its far cheaper than normal sugar. Food producers and supermarkets are slowly killing us, making enormous profits but contributing ZERO to our enormous NHS bill. Something HAS to be done to change this!! – EggLover , Shropshire, United Kingdom, 25/4/2013 07:21? – there is such a thing as ‘choice’ – people don’t have to eat all the ‘killer’ foods. Obese people have a choice not to overeat and so on. Why should the supermarkets contribute to the NHS, the consumers are the ones making the darn choice to eat the stuff – no gun to the head!
Bijou
,
norwich, United Kingdom,
25/4/2013 09:27
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It is being sedentary that causes it. If you exercise you will be fine . Not good for your teeth though and I am beginning to regret sugary drinks for that reason. a scale and polish of the extent I need it flippin’ hurts
AF
,
Alloa,
25/4/2013 09:25
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So it increases my risk by a fifth. This is totally meaningless if you don’t give the normal risk. If General risk was 1 in 4 then obviously this is a very serious finding. However, if risk is 1 in 100,000 then increasing my risk by a fifth is fairly insignificant. You do this all the time DM and it often causes unnecessary alarm.
usednurse
,
Borders, Scotland,
25/4/2013 09:18
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