Type 2 diabetes is a disease characterized by elevated blood glucose levels. It affects more than 20 million people in the U.S. This chronic disease was typically diagnosed in adults over age 40; but overweight and physically inactive children are increasingly being treated for Type 2 diabetes. Overweight or obese individuals are at higher risk of developing the disease than their healthy-weight counterparts. Those trying to lose weight or those aware of their diabetes risk may try to cut calories by drinking diet sodas. Knowing the impact of diet sodas on diabetes helps you make informed decisions about your dietary habits.
The Link
In 2009, scientists at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center investigated the correlation between Type 2 diabetes and diet soda consumption. Researchers found that consuming one or more diet sodas daily imposed a 67 percent increase in the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Investigators noted that the risk associated with diet soda consumption was not independent of extraneous factors, such as waist circumference or body weight.
Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome, also known as syndrome X, is a collection of risk factors you may have that, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, makes you twice as likely to develop heart disease and five times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. You must have at least three conditions to be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Those conditions are high blood pressure or hypertension, elevated blood glucose levels, being overweight or obese with extra body fat around the abdomen and elevated triglyceride levels. In 2008, the National Institutes of Health funded a study that investigated the dietary habits of 10,000 adult Americans. To their surprise, researchers found a significant link between diet soda and metabolic syndrome.
Causes
Though the University of Texas study doesn't offer an explanation for the link between diet soda and diabetes, scientists believe the artificial sweeteners in diet sodas infringe upon the brain mechanisms that control our feelings of hunger and satiety.
Diet Soda Substitutes
As with other foods, diet sodas are OK when you consume them in moderation. Though scientists now know that the water we get from juices, milk, soups, teas and coffees is beneficial, plain water is best. Flavored water with a hint of lime, lemon or cherry juice may please your palate. Prepare a cup of hot chicken or beef broth on a cold day to meet your water requirements. If you must, pour regular soda into a shot glass and refill only until your thirst is quenched; without a 20 oz. soda bottle in front of you, the need to finish your beverage may disappear.
References
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: How is Metabolic Syndrome Diagnosed?
- "NIH News in Health"; Diet and Metabolic Syndrome; April 2008
- "Diabetes Care"; Diet Soda Intake and Risk of Incident Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA); J.A. Nettleton, et al.; January 2009
