Diabetes, heart diseases are on the rise – and scientists point to one important reason

Millions of new cases of diabetes and Heart disease every year are caused by sugary drinks, according to a recently published study.

Tufts University in Boston led the study, which found that about 2.2 million young people are diagnosed type 2 diabetes and 1.2 million new cases of heart disease are attributed to sugary sodas and juices each year, according to a press release.

The findings are published in the journal Nature Medicine this week.

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The highest rates are found in Colombia, where 48% of young people with diabetes are linked sugary drinksand Mexico, where almost a third of the cases are attributed to them.

Meanwhile, in Latin America, more than 24% of young people with diabetes are linked to sugary drinks, and 21% in sub-Saharan Africa, the study found.

In South Africa, 27.6% of young people with diabetes and 14.6% of heart disease are attributed to sugary drinks.

Sugary drinks are digested quickly, causing a spike in blood sugar levels with little nutritional value.

Sugary drinks cause blood sugar to rise because they are “digested quickly,” the research team said.

If used for a long time, these types of drinks, in addition to increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, can lead to weight gain and insulin resistance, the researchers added.

Men are more likely than women to suffer from sugar-sweetened beverages, as are young adults compared to their older counterparts, new research suggests. (Stock)

Professor Dariush Mozaffarian, the lead author of the study, in a university press release said, “Sweet drinks are widely sold and sold in low- and middle-income countries.”

He added, “Not only are these communities consuming dangerous products, but they are also often ill-equipped to deal with the long-term health consequences.”

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Certain groups are more likely to experience negative health effects from sugary drinks, including men and young adults, the researchers noted, as news agency SWNS noted.

New Jersey-based registered dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade, who was not involved in the study, said the findings were expected, as a diet rich in added sugar is more likely to increase the risk of chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes.

If consumed over a long period of time, these types of drinks can also lead to weight gain and insulin resistance, experts say. (Stock)

“Sugar-sweetened beverages are a major cause of added sugar in the diet and are easy to consume, as they provide less filling,” he told Fox News Digital.

“The high calorie content and the lack of satisfaction due to the little protein, fat or fiber in these drinks can lead to excessive calorie consumption, which can lead to weight gain – especially the gain of visceral fat (abdominal fat), which has been found to increase. the risk of developing type 2 diabetes,” he continued.

“Sweet drinks are easy to overdo, as they provide less satiety.”

Palinski-Wade pointed out that there are limitations to the new study.

“This was an observational study, not a causal study, and only shows an association between diets containing sugar-sweetened beverages and diabetes,” he noted.

“It doesn’t prove that those drinks alone trigger the onset of type 2 diabetes.”

What needs to be changed?

To address the issue, the study’s authors called for a “multi-pronged approach,” including public health campaigns, advertising regulations and taxes on sugary drinks, the release said.

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“We need urgent, evidence-based interventions to curb the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages worldwide, before more lives are shortened by their effects on diabetes and heart disease,” said first author Laura Lara-Castor, now at the University of Washington. on release.

About 65% of adults in the US consume sugar-sweetened beverages on a daily basis. (Stock)

Mexico began implementing a tax on sugary drinks in 2014, which has shown to be effective in reducing consumption, the researchers said.

“More remains to be done, especially in Latin American and African countries, where consumption is high and health outcomes are severe,” Mozaffarian wrote.

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“As a species, we need to address sugary drink consumption.”

There are many different factors involved in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, notes Palinski-Wade.

“As a species, we need to address sugary drink consumption.”

“However, reducing your intake of sugary drinks can go a long way in improving blood sugar control and future health.”

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The new research was supported by the Gates Foundation, the American Heart Association and the National Council of Science and Technology of Mexico.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the researchers for further comment.