April 20, 2023: Drinking sugary drinks increases the risks of cardiovascular disease and death in people with type 2 diabetes, but switching to low-fat coffee, tea or milk could reduce these risks.
That is the finding of a new US study in which The researchers examined data on nearly 15,500 people with type 2 diabetes from two main studies. They found that those who drank the most sugary drinks had a 20% increased risk of death from any cause (“death from all causes”) and a 25% increased risk of cardiovascular disease, compared to those who drank the least of these products.
The investigation, publishedin the bmj on Wednesday, it also showed that drinking coffee, tea, plain water and low-fat milk reduced the risk of death from all causes, and that switching from sugary drinks to those beverages reduced mortality.
“Overall, these results provide additional evidence emphasizing the importance of beverage choices in maintaining general health among adults with diabetes,” the lead author wrote. le ma PhD, from the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health in Boston, and colleagues.
The choice of drink matters; Having diabetes does not mean restrictions
Nita Forouhi, MD, PhDfrom the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine in the UK cautioned, however, that the findings “cannot be considered cause and effect” despite the large-scale analysis.
In addition, questions remain, such as the impact of beverage consumption on the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer mortality, with the current study providing “inconclusive” data on the latter.
There were also no data on the addition of sugar to tea or coffee, “so the comparative health effects of sugar-free and sugar-containing hot drinks remain unclear.” forouhi points. It is also unknown if the type of tea consumed has any effect.
Despite these and other reservations, he says that overall, “beverage choice clearly matters.”
“The case for avoiding sugary drinks is compelling and is supported by various tax measures in more than 45 countries. It makes sense to shift the focus to the beverages that are most likely to have a positive impact on health: coffee, tea, plain water, and low-fat milk.”
The best drinks for people with type 2 diabetes
It was estimated in 2021 that there were 537 million adults worldwide with type 2 diabetes, a number that will rise to 783 million by 2045, say. the authors of the article.
People with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, among many other health conditions, as well as an increased risk of premature death. Diet changes can play an important role in managing those risks.
Recommendations for the healthiest beverages to drink are largely based on evidence from the general population, and data on the best options for adults with type 2 diabetes, who have impaired metabolism, are limited, the researchers note.