Sugary Drinks & Diabetes: Higher Risk Than Sweet Foods
A new study confirms sugary drinks dangerously elevate the risk of type 2 diabetes, more so than sweet foods. News Directory 3 now explores why sugary drinks, such as sodas, quickly spike blood glucose, increasing diabetes risk. Researchers found that each additional 12-ounce serving of sugary drinks raises diabetes risk by 25%. Even fruit juice consumption carries a heightened risk. The absence of fiber, protein, and fat in these beverages leads to rapid sugar absorption, disrupting liver metabolism. This meta-analysis, encompassing over 500,000 adults, underscores how the form of sugar consumption substantially impacts health. Discover what’s next for diabetes prevention strategies.
Sugary Drinks Increase Type 2 Diabetes Risk
Updated June 11, 2025
Consuming sugar thru beverages like sodas and fruit juices may significantly increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a recent meta-analysis. The research suggests that liquid forms of sugar pose a greater threat than sugar consumed in solid foods.
Karen Della Corte, an associate professor of nutritional science at Brigham Young University, led the study. She noted that the findings underscore the heightened health risks associated with drinking sugar versus eating it.
Della corte’s team analyzed 29 long-term studies, encompassing over 500,000 adults from various regions, including the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, and latin America. The studies tracked participants’ total sugar intake,including sucrose and fructose,over at least two years to monitor the growth of type 2 diabetes.
The data, gathered via surveys on eating and drinking habits, revealed a strong correlation between sugary drink consumption and diabetes risk. After adjusting for factors like BMI, calorie intake, family history, and lifestyle, the researchers found that each additional 12-ounce serving of sugar-sweetened beverages daily raised diabetes risk by 25%. An extra 8-ounce serving of fruit juice was linked to a 5% increase.
Della Corte explained that liquid sugars are absorbed rapidly, causing sharp spikes in blood glucose and insulin levels. These beverages lack fiber, protein, or fat, which would normally slow sugar absorption. Over time, this process can disrupt liver metabolism and increase insulin resistance, contributing to type 2 diabetes.
“The findings highlight why drinking your sugar is more problematic for health than eating it,” della Corte said.
Susan Spratt, a professor of medicine specializing in diabetes and metabolism at Duke Health, who was not involved in the study, concurred that the form of sugar intake matters. She noted that food containing sugar is less likely to cause blood sugar spikes because the presence of protein and fat slows down carbohydrate breakdown.
“higher amounts of fat and protein decrease stomach emptying, slowing the rate at which carbohydrates are digested and are absorbed from the intestine,” Spratt said.”This blunts the glycemic rise. Additionally, insulin secretion can be enhanced by the amino acids in protein.”
What’s next
While pairing sugary drinks with food might mitigate some effects, Della Corte advises that replacing such beverages with water or naturally flavored alternatives remains the safest approach to minimize the risk of type 2 diabetes. Focus on consuming sugar as part of a minimally processed diet.