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A major study, recently published in Nature Medicine, has established a strong connection between the consumption of sugary drinks and the development of diabetes. Researchers analyzed dietary questionnaires from 2.9 million people across 184 countries, comparing their drinking and eating habits between 1990 and 2020.
Findings revealed that nearly 10% of all diabetes cases were attributed to the consumption of sugary drinks—meaning over two million people worldwide developed diabetes due to consuming sugar-sweetened beverages. The study also indicated that sugary drinks were responsible for over one million cases of ischemic heart disease (heart attacks) globally, as well as 1.2 million new cases of cardiovascular disease among the participants.
These results support numerous previous studies that identified sugary drinks as a driving factor behind the rise in diabetes and its complications. The data, collected globally, regionally, and nationally, and categorized by age, gender, education level, and urbanization, showed an increase in diabetes cases among men more than women, younger adults compared to older adults, those with higher education levels compared to those with lower education, and people in urban areas compared to rural ones.
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Moreover, the data highlight the scope of this issue among populations that are expected to be health-conscious and make informed lifestyle decisions. This is especially concerning, as it demonstrates the significant impact of modern lifestyles on different populations.
Expert recommendations
Dr. Irit Hochberg explained that the best preventive treatment is a healthy diet consisting mainly of vegetables, proteins, and healthy fats, alongside avoiding or minimizing sugar and other processed carbohydrates, maintaining a healthy weight, and engaging in physical activity. "This approach is also recommended for those who have already developed diabetes, but they will almost always require constant medication to reduce the complications of the disease," she said.
For tens of thousands of years, humans consumed small quantities of food derived from natural animal and plant sources that they prepared themselves. Often, food was not available year-round, and when people consumed sugar, it was in the form of whole fruits. However, in the past century, humans have been exposed to large quantities of sugary drinks containing sugar levels equivalent to those in several pieces of fruit, but without the fruit’s skin, dietary fiber, or phytochemicals.
Modern consumption habits
Today, when thirsty, people often consume a glass of sugary drinks, sometimes multiple times a day. This places a heavy burden on the insulin system and weight and energy regulation mechanisms. Over time, this leads to weight gain, impaired pancreatic insulin production, and reduced tissue response to insulin—processes that cause blood sugar levels to rise to harmful levels. A new study, recently published in Cell Metabolism, found that sugary drinks alter gut bacteria composition and disrupt blood metabolite levels, which are linked to the development of diabetes.
Prevention is key
Preventing disease is always preferable to treating it after it develops, as it spares individuals the suffering from the condition and reduces the cost and burden of chronic treatments. In this case, prevention could effectively avoid significant suffering for many people. Excessive sugar consumption is linked to young individuals developing strokes, heart attacks, kidney failure, nerve damage with chronic pain, and more—conditions that are often preventable by adopting societal norms that favor consumption of low-sugar drinks and foods.
Dr. Irit HochbergPhoto: Rambam Health Care CampusDr. Hochberg emphasized that real changes to these norms can prevent diabetes and obesity for many people. "Many patients ask me for a 'natural treatment' for diabetes without medication. A healthy diet primarily based on vegetables, proteins, and healthy fats, reducing sugar and processed carbohydrates, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercising is the best approach. However, those who have already developed diabetes will almost always require regular medication to manage complications."
Reducing sugary drink consumption
Experts in nutrition and diet-related diseases strongly recommend completely eliminating sugary drinks or reducing their consumption to the lowest possible frequency. While this can be challenging for people accustomed to sugary beverages due to the addictive nature of sugar, the negative health effects make the effort worthwhile. Dr. Hochberg suggested making this change as a family or community, which can make it easier and reduce feelings of deprivation or temptation.
- Dr. Irit Hochberg is acting director and head of the Diabetes Service in the Institute of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism at Rambam Health Care Campus