Diet soda tied to higher diabetes risk than sugary drinks

Many people consider artificial sweeteners to be a healthier alternative to sugar. However, researchers from Australia and the Netherlands argue that these substitutes come with significant health risks.

The scientists found that consuming just one can of diet soda sweetened with artificial sweeteners each day for several years is linked to a 38 percent increase in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those who do not consume such beverages.

Ironically, these risks are even higher than the 23 percent increase in the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes associated with the consumption of sugary sodas.

What Did the Researchers Discover?

These findings come from a study of 36,608 Australians aged 40 to 69. Over 14 years, participants reported their intake of artificial sweeteners and sugar-sweetened beverages, while the researchers tracked how this affected the volunteers’ health.

“Consuming one or more diet sodas daily was associated with a significantly higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes,” said Robel Hussen Kabtimer, a dietitian at Monash University in Australia. The team also found that excess weight was a driving factor behind this connection.

More Harm Than Good?

Previous studies have already partially established a link between the consumption of sugar substitutes and the development of type 2 diabetes. Given that different countries use different artificial sweeteners and that dietary habits vary around the world, researchers say it’s important to collect more data on the potential risks.

“Artificial sweeteners are often recommended to people at risk of diabetes as a healthier alternative, but our results indicate that they may pose health dangers,” noted Barbora de Kurten, a biomedical researcher at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT).

The researchers suggested that some artificial sweeteners may affect blood sugar control. For instance, aspartame, which is widely used, could increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to Science Alert.

Meanwhile, other sweeteners are known to disrupt the gut microbiota, exacerbating glucose intolerance. This too can increase the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes—even in individuals who are not overweight.

Recent studies have also linked the consumption of sugar substitutes to changes in brain structure and to heart damage.

The findings of the study were published in the journal Diabetes & Metabolism.

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