Health Alert: Sugary drinks cause over 2m cases of Type 2 Diabetes annually –Researchers

*Experts, in a recent study, found the impact of sugary drinks on consumers is especially severe in developing countries, including Nigeria, Mexico, and South Africa, where sugary drinks contributed to over 21 percent of new diabetes cases, while Latin America and the Caribbean accounted for 24 percent of new diabetes cases, and 11 percent of cardiovascular disease cases

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Researchers, in a recent study from Tufts University estimated that sugary drinks cause 2.2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes and 1.2 million new cases of cardiovascular disease globally each year.

The impact is especially severe in developing countries, agency report said.

According to researchers, in Sub-Saharan Africa, sugary drinks contribute to over 21 percent of new diabetes cases, while in Latin America and the Caribbean, they account for 24% of new diabetes cases and 11% of cardiovascular disease cases.

Dariush Mozaffarian, Senior author on the research paper, stated: “Sugar-sweetened beverages are heavily marketed and sold in low- and middle-income nations.

“Not only are these communities consuming harmful products, but they are also often less well equipped to deal with the long-term health consequences.”

Countries, such as Colombia, Mexico, and South Africa have been hit hard, stated the experts.

In Colombia, nearly 50 percent of new diabetes cases are linked to sugary drinks.

In Mexico, nearly one-third of new diabetes cases are associated with sugary drink consumption.

In South Africa, 27.6 percent of new diabetes cases and 14.6 percent of cardiovascular disease cases are linked to sugary beverages.

The problem with sugar-sweetened beverages, by experts

Sugary drinks cause rapid blood sugar spikes and offer little nutritional value, the researchers noted.

Over time, their regular consumption leads to weight gain, insulin resistance, and other metabolic issues linked to Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Researchers call for urgent action, including public health campaigns, regulation of sugary drink advertising, and taxes on sugary drinks.

Mexico, which introduced a tax on sugary drinks in 2014, has seen some success in reducing consumption, particularly among lower-income individuals.

Mozaffarian, who is also Jean Mayer Professor of Nutrition at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science at Tufts, also said: “Much more needs to be done, especially in countries in Latin America and Africa where consumption is high and the health consequence severe.

“As a species, we need to address sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.”

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