Australian researchers find sugary drinks boost diabetes risk irrespective of obesity

SLIM people are no more immune from type 2 diabetes than their obese counterparts, according to a new study. And women in particular are at risk.

CALLS for a local sugar tax have been bolstered by a major Australian-led study showing for that sugary drinks, irrespective of obesity or weight gain, can cause type 2 diabetes.

An Australian National University-led study of 40,000 adults has shown the more sugary drinks consumed by an individual the higher diabetes risk, meaning skinny people are not immune.

Men and women react differently to sugar-filled drinks like soft drink, flavoured milk and sweetened juices, and women are far more likely to develop type 2 diabetes from regular consumption as opposed to men.

The study of 40,000 Thai adults from 2005 to 2013 has shown sugar-sweetened beverages are driving our diabetes epidemic.

The US soft-drink industry vowed in 2014 to cut beverage calories in the American diet 20 per cent by 2025. Picture: AP

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Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way the body processes sugar.

Around 1.7 million Australians have diabetes, with 85-90 per cent Type 2 cases.

It is estimated 500,000 Australians have undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes.

Interestingly, the ANU study showed women had a much bigger risk of diabetes associated with sugar-sweetened drinks.

Women who consumed one or more sugary beverages a day had a 90 per cent higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes simply due to their liquid sugar consumption and irrespective of their body mass index.

Women are far more likely to develop type 2 diabetes from regular consumption as opposed to men. Picture: Supplied

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Those who had between one and six sugar-sweetened beverages a week were 50 per cent more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes.

Over the eight-year period only men who consumed one or more beverage a day saw a 30 per cent increase in risk.

Previously it has been assumed that obesity and sugar drinking go hand-in-hand, with sugar leading to weight gain which then results in Type 2 diabetes.

The latest study also showed over 4000 cases of Type 2 diabetes could be prevented annually in the Thai population if people avoided sugary drinks daily.

Drinking sugar-filled drinks can lead to Type 2 diabetes irrespective of obesity. Picture: AAP

Lead author of the study Keren Papier said that figure would easily translate to the Australian population.

“A reduction in sugary drink consumption is likely reduce rates of diabetes in Australia,” Ms Papier said.

In addition to a sugar tax Ms Papier also said warnings for women in particular to drink less of the beverages could be necessary.

The new study comes just days after a separate study found Australian soft drinks had 22 per cent higher levels of glucose than those overseas.

Several countries including Mexico, the United States, France and Chile have already started acting on sugary drinks by imposing or committing to a sugar tax.
Implementing the tax in the US and Mexico in particular has led to a 17 and 21 per cent decrease in the purchase of taxed beverages among low-income households.

Health Minister Greg Hunt says a sugar tax is not the answer. Picture: AAP

A spokesman for Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the government was already working on programs to encourage healthy living and that a sugar tax was not being considered.

He said that GST was already applied to chips, lollies, sugary drinks, confectionery, snacks, ice-cream and biscuits but not to fruit and vegetables to encourage healthy choices.

“We don’t believe increasing the family grocery bill at the supermarket is the answer to this challenge,” he said.

AMA President Michael Gannon said the study’s findings were “very concerning”.

Dr Gannon said a tax on sugar was needed but that the battle on sugar would be fought long and hard in a similar way to tobacco.

“We need to give a price signal to individuals that these are not normal drinks and should be used selectively or not consumed by anyone,” he said.

Angela Magarry, CEO of the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges also said the study supported a call for a sugar tax.

“If the evidence is there we would also support measures that would lead to better labelling and better warnings on the drinks themselves.”

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