If you drink only one can of sugary soda a day, thinking that you're being healthy, you might want to rethink that decision. According to a European study, published on Wednesday, drinking one sugary drink a day increases your risk of developing diabetes significantly.
The study, lead by researchers at the Imperial College London, found that one daily increase in a sugary 12 fluid ounce drink (the equivalent of a regular can of soda) raises the risk of developing diabetes by 22 percent, when compared to drinking a maximum of one can a month (or less). The study was drawn from 350,000 participants in eight European countries.
People in Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden took part in the survey, which asked questions about their diet, sugary drink intake, as well as the artificially sweetened drinks they would imbibe each day. The results of the study can be found in the journal Diabetologia, published by the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.
Dora Romaguera, leader of the research team who wrote the study, told Reuters, "Given the increase in sweet beverage consumption in Europe, clear messages on the unhealthy effect of these drinks should be given to the population." Previous studies in the United States corroborate the new European study, which links sugary drink consumption with an increased risk of diabetes and obesity.
The disease in question, Type-2 diabetes, involves the body building up insulin resistance, where there isn't enough insulin, or the insulin isn't utilized correctly, and glucose builds up in the bloodstream. High glucose levels can damage the nerves, kidneys, heart, and blood vessels. Serious consequences can include dehydration, coma, and even death.
The study did find that artificially sweetened soft drinks and natural juice or nectar consumption did not significantly impact the risk of diabetes.
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