One Diet Soda a Day Linked to 38% Higher Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Researchers call for public health policies to address not just sugary drinks but also artificially sweetened beverages, as both may impact long-term metabolic health.
- One diet soda a day was linked to a 38% higher risk of type 2 diabetes in a large long-term study.
- Sugary drinks were tied to a 23% higher risk, but that link weakened after adjusting for body weight.
- The diet soda risk stayed high even after accounting for weight, pointing to effects beyond weight gain.
- Researchers suspect artificial sweeteners may disrupt gut bacteria or how the body handles sugar.
A new study on diet soda and diabetes risk adds to questions about artificial sweeteners. For the bigger picture, read our plain-language guide to Diabetes.
A major new study has found that drinking just one can of diet soda a day may raise your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 38%. Surprisingly, this is a greater risk than what’s seen with regular sugary sodas.
The study, led by researchers at Monash University, followed more than 36,000 adults aged 40 to 69 over nearly 14 years. It’s the first long-term research to directly compare the effects of artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) on diabetes risk.
While sugary drinks were also linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes (23%), that connection weakened when researchers adjusted for obesity and waist size. This suggests that weight gain may explain much of the diabetes risk from sugar-sweetened drinks.
However, the risk from diet sodas stayed high even after accounting for weight, hinting at other health effects beyond just obesity. Researchers believe artificial sweeteners may disrupt gut bacteria or interfere with how the body handles sugar, possibly leading to glucose intolerance, a known warning sign for diabetes.
The study didn’t single out specific sweeteners, but common ones include aspartame, sucralose, and saccharin—which have previously been linked to gut microbiome changes and insulin response issues.
Experts say these findings challenge the idea that diet drinks are a safe alternative. “They’re often marketed as healthier,” said senior author Professor Barbora de Courten, “but our results suggest they may have their own risks.”
Researchers call for public health policies to address not just sugary drinks but also artificially sweetened beverages, as both may impact long-term metabolic health.
The full study is published in Diabetes & Metabolism.
Sources and further reading
Common questions
Are diet sodas a lower-risk choice than regular sodas for diabetes?
This study suggests otherwise. Drinking one can of diet soda a day was associated with a 38% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a greater risk than what was seen with regular sugary sodas, and the risk stayed high even after accounting for weight.
Who was included in the study?
Researchers at Monash University followed more than 36,000 adults aged 40 to 69 over nearly 14 years. It is the first long-term research to directly compare artificially sweetened beverages and sugar-sweetened beverages on diabetes risk.
Why might artificial sweeteners raise diabetes risk?
Researchers believe artificial sweeteners may disrupt gut bacteria or interfere with how the body handles sugar, possibly leading to glucose intolerance, a known warning sign for diabetes. The study did not single out specific sweeteners.
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