Sugary Drinks Linked to Millions of New Diabetes and Heart Disease Cases Globally

A new study published in Nature Medicine reveals the staggering health toll of sugar-sweetened beverages worldwide. Researchers at the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University estimate that each year, sugary drink consumption leads to 2.2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes and 1.2 million new cases of cardiovascular disease globally.

The impact of sugary beverages is particularly acute in developing regions. According to the study’s results, sub-Saharan Africa saw sugar-sweetened drinks contribute to more than 21 percent of all new diabetes cases, while in Latin America and the Caribbean, these beverages were linked to nearly 24 percent of diabetes cases and over 11 percent of cardiovascular disease cases.

Countries such as Colombia, Mexico, and South Africa have been hit hardest. The research showed that in Colombia, sugary drinks accounted for 48 percent of new diabetes cases. In Mexico, nearly one-third of new diabetes cases were linked to sugary drinks. Meanwhile, in South Africa, the beverages contributed to 27.6 percent of new diabetes cases and 14.6 percent of cardiovascular disease cases.

“Sugar-sweetened beverages are heavily marketed and sold in low- and middle-income nations,” noted Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, the study’s senior author and director of the Food is Medicine Institute at the Friedman School. “Not only are these communities consuming harmful products, but they are also often less well equipped to deal with the long-term health consequences.”

According to the study, sugar-sweetened drinks are rapidly absorbed by the body, causing spikes in blood sugar levels but offering little to no nutritional value. Over time, frequent consumption contributes to weight gain, insulin resistance, and a range of metabolic issues tied to diabetes and cardiovascular disease—two of the world’s leading causes of death.

The study also highlighted disparities in health outcomes, finding that men and younger adults are more likely to suffer the consequences of sugary drink consumption.

To combat this growing crisis, the study’s authors urge governments and organizations to implement evidence-based interventions. These include public health campaigns, stricter regulations on sugary drink advertising, and taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages.

Mexico, a leader in this effort, introduced a tax on sugary drinks in 2014. Early results suggest the tax has reduced consumption, particularly among lower-income individuals, demonstrating the potential effectiveness of such measures, the study said.

“We need urgent, evidence-based interventions to curb consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages globally, before even more lives are shortened by their effects on diabetes and heart disease,” said Laura Lara-Castor, PhD, the study's lead author.

While some countries have taken steps to address the problem, the authors stressed that much more needs to be done, especially in regions like Latin America and Africa where consumption rates are high and healthcare systems may struggle to manage the consequences.

“As a species, we need to address sugar-sweetened beverage consumption,” Dr. Mozaffarian emphasized. “The evidence is clear—these drinks are driving preventable diseases and costing lives.”