Sugary Drinks Are Driving a Surge in Diabetes—This Country Is Hit the Hardest

A can of soda may seem harmless, but multiply that sweet sip by billions worldwide, and the health impact is staggering. Sugary drinks were linked to 2.2 million new cases of Type 2 diabetes in 2020 alone, according to a study published Nature Medicine.

Experts analyzed data from 184 countries to assess the relationship between sugary drink consumption and chronic diseases. The study found that beyond diabetes cases, these beverages were also associated with 1.2 million new cases of cardiovascular disease in the same year.

The impact varied significantly across regions, with Latin America and the Caribbean experiencing the highest burden. In these areas, sugar-sweetened beverages were linked to 24% of new diabetes cases and 11% of new cardiovascular disease cases. Sub-Saharan Africa followed closely, with sugary drinks contributing to 21% of new diabetes cases.

Colombia emerged as the country most affected by the health consequences of sugary drink consumption. Between 1990 and 2020, the nation recorded an average increase of 793 new Type 2 diabetes cases per 1 million adults, with nearly half of all new cases in 2020 attributed to sugar-sweetened beverages. The United States ranked second, reporting an average increase of 671 diabetes cases per 1 million adults during the same period.

The study revealed distinct demographic patterns in consumption. Men showed higher rates of sugary beverage intake compared to women. The research also identified elevated consumption among younger adults, those with higher education levels, and urban residents.

Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, director of the Food Is Medicine Institute at Tufts University and senior author of the study, emphasized the particular vulnerability of developing nations. "Sugar-sweetened beverages are heavily marketed and sold in low- and middle-income nations. Not only are these communities consuming harmful products, but they are also often less well equipped to deal with the long-term health consequences," he said in a press release.

The findings indicate a concerning trend in sub-Saharan Africa, which experienced the largest proportional increases in both diabetes and cardiovascular disease related to sugary drink consumption from 1990 to 2020.

The research team suggests their findings could inform policy decisions and public health interventions aimed at reducing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption globally. Their data provides evidence for the need to address marketing practices and accessibility of these beverages, particularly in regions showing the highest disease burden.