Sugary drinks are linked to an increasing rate of type 2 diabetes both in the U.K. and in U.S., a study conducted by a team of researchers from Cambridge University reported. Interestingly, even those who are physically fit but drink sugary beverages are also at risk of diabetes. The researchers also pointed out that even so-called "diet" drinks or fruit juices that contain artificial sweeteners are not good for the healthy.
"Unsweetened coffee and tea or water may be the healthy option," Fumiaki Imamura, of the Medical Research Council epidemiology unit at the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, said. The study, published in the British Medical Journal, however failed to identify if how many sweetened drinks actually trigger type 2 diabetes. However, they inferred that present level of consumption of sugary beverages were enough to cause "approximately 2 million excess events of type 2 diabetes in U.S. and 80,000 in U.K. over 10 years." Translated in monetary terms, this costs Americans roughly £12 billion and the Britons £206 million.
According to the researchers, there may be credible biological factors that link sugar intake to boost the blood glucose level quickly, which the body encounters difficulty to cope up with. After conducting 17 separate observational studies, the researchers concluded that sugar-sweetened beverages are more likely to trigger type 2 diabetes.
"This study adds further evidence that sugary drinks are associated with increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes, even in non-obese people, suggesting we are all vulnerable," Aseem Malhotra, spokesperson for the nonprofit group Action on Sugar said.
However, there were skeptics about the study. Tom Sanders, professor emeritus of nutrition and dietetics at King's College London, said that the data gathered by the researchers were based on reports that have been gathered before they became diabetic and those who were on the early stages of diabetes who have continued to drink sugary drinks.
"This might explain part of the association, particularly that with artificially sweetened drinks. It is also well known that people who are obese are more likely to use artificial sweeteners and drinks containing them," he explained.
However, Sanders pointed out that drinking sugary drinks is not the only factor that causes diabetes, but more of the "age, obesity and physical inactivity."
