Sweet beverages are at a higher risk of diabetes than other foods containing fructose, study finds

Drinking sugary drinks – such as sodas – could increase your chances of developing some type of diabetes more than other foods containing fructose, a recent study concluded.

In the study published last week in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), researchers at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto concluded that "sugary drinks are at a higher risk of type 2 diabetes than most foods containing fructose, a natural sugar ". the hospital said in a press release.

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The researchers said that the most natural foods containing fructose, such as whole fruits and vegetables, honey and natural fruit juices, "do not seem to have a detrimental effect on blood sugar levels". But the sugary drinks, they add, "add an excess of nutrients – energy to the diets [that] may have harmful effects ".

To reach this conclusion, St. Michael's researchers reviewed 155 different studies "evaluating the effect of different dietary sources of glucose sugars on glucose levels in people with and without diabetes being monitored for up to a period of time. 'to 12 weeks'.

The researchers also said that some fruits and juices "may have beneficial effects on the control of blood sugar and insulin, especially in diabetics", when these foods "do not provide an excess of calories ".

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"These findings could help guide recommendations on important dietary sources of fructose in the prevention and management of diabetes," said John Sievenpiper, lead author of the study, in a statement. However, he noted that more research on the subject is still needed.

That said, the study echoes a 2010 study published by the American Diabetes Association and concludes that those who consume a sweet drink once or more a day have a "26 [percent] higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who do not.