An Australian study shows drinking one can of artificially sweetened soft drink daily may increase type 2 diabetes risk by 38%, higher than the 23% risk from sugar-sweetened drinks.
Led by Professor Barbora de Courten (Monash University and RMIT), Associate Professor Allison Hodge (Cancer Council Victoria), and PhD student Robel Hussen Kabthymer, the study tracked 36,000 Australians over 14 years. Published in Diabetes & Metabolism, it challenges the idea that diet drinks are safer.
“Both sugary and artificially sweetened drinks are linked to higher diabetes risk,” said Mr. Kabthymer. The link with diet drinks persists even after adjusting for body weight, suggesting a direct metabolic effect.
Professor de Courten urges broader public health policies, including scrutiny of artificially sweetened drinks, often marketed as healthy.
The study, part of the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study, adjusted for diet, exercise, and other factors. Type 2 diabetes affects 1.3 million Australians and over 500 million globally.
Read more: Diabetes & Metabolism. DOI: 10.1016/j.diabet.2025.101665
Source: www.monash.edu
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