The ongoing political debate over the introduction of a sugar tax is once again bringing the health consequences of sugar-sweetened beverages into focus. Whether such a tax is the appropriate policy tool for reducing sugar consumption among the population is also the subject of public and scientific debate. From a medical perspective, it can be stated that: High consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, such as soft drinks or energy drinks, is associated with an increased risk of overweight and type 2 diabetes. Fruit juices also contain a lot of sugar and should therefore only be consumed in moderation.
The German Diabetes Center (DDZ) and the University Hospital Düsseldorf (UKD) are highlighting this amid the current debate.
“High consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is a cause for concern from a health perspective. People who regularly drink sugar-sweetened beverages instead of water consume extra calories. A long-term calorie surplus can lead to overweight, which is one of the most important risk factors for type 2 diabetes,” explains Prof. Dr. Michael Roden, Director of the Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology at the UKD and Scientific Director of the DDZ. “An increased intake of fructose (fruit sugar) also promotes the development of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).”
Half a liter of Cola—About 18 sugar cubes
A simple example illustrates just how quickly beverages can add up to a significant amount of sugar: Half a liter of regular cola contains approximately 210 kcal and 53 grams of sugar. That is equivalent to around 18 sugar cubes, each weighing three grams.
Results from large international observational studies and meta-analyses show that people who regularly consume sugar-sweetened beverages have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The main factors here are likely to be the additional energy intake and potential weight gain, as well as adverse effects on metabolism, such as reduced insulin effectiveness in the body.
Complications are common in type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes usually develops over a period of years or even decades, often following preliminary stages such as increasing insulin resistance and elevated blood sugar (prediabetes). However, sugar-sweetened beverages are not the only factor. The risk is also influenced by overweight—especially excess abdominal fat—as well as a lack of physical activity, age, and a high-fat diet.
At the UKD, the long-term consequences of type 2 diabetes are evident in everyday clinical practice. Blood sugar levels that remain poorly controlled over an extended period of time damage blood vessels and nerves. Possible complications include cardiovascular disease, strokes, and damage to the kidneys, eyes, and nerves.
“Of course, a single glass of soda does not cause type 2 diabetes and its complications. But regular consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages increases the risk. And these are health consequences that could often be prevented,” emphasizes Prof. Roden.
The good news: Even simple changes in your daily routine can help reduce your sugar intake considerably. If you regularly replace sugar-sweetened beverages with water or unsweetened tea, you can significantly cut back on sugar with little effort—and save money in the process. “The best way to prevent type 2 diabetes and its complications is to reduce avoidable risks as early as possible,” advises Prof. Roden.
A sugar tax is one of several measures
Whether a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages actually changes consumer behavior and leads to fewer cases of diabetes in the long term has not yet been conclusively established by scientific evidence: “Initial international experience shows positive effects on the sugar content of beverages, purchasing behavior, and certain health indicators. However, there is not yet sufficient evidence to suggest that such a tax would lead to a long-term decline in new diabetes cases. It must therefore be subject to professional evaluation and analysis,” Prof. Roden points out. Furthermore, the sugar tax can only be one part of a broader approach, which might also include restrictions on advertising aimed at children and adolescents and a comprehensive nutrition strategy.
Research in Düsseldorf examines the development and consequences of diabetes
How diabetes develops, why the disease progresses differently in different people, and which factors influence the risk of serious complications are among the main research topics at the DDZ, the UKD, and Heinrich Heine University. Led by Prof. Roden, the German Diabetes Study (GDS) observes people with newly diagnosed diabetes over a 20-year period. The study has identified subtypes, or subgroups, of type 2 diabetes that can already be recognized at diagnosis and are characterized by different courses of the disease. The goal is to enable more personalized preventive care and treatment in the future.
Media contact:
German Diabetes Center (DDZ)
Press office
Susan Jörges
Auf‘m Hennekamp 65
40225 Düsseldorf
Phone: +49 (0)211 3382-450
pressestelle@ddz.de
The German Diabetes Center (DDZ) serves as the German reference center for diabetes. Its objective is to contribute to the improvement of prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes mellitus. At the same time, the research center aims at improving the epidemiological data situation in Germany. The DDZ coordinates the multicenter German Diabetes Study and is a point of contact for all players in the health sector. In addition, it prepares scientific information on diabetes mellitus and makes it available to the public. The DDZ is part of the Leibniz Association (Wissenschaftsgemeinschaft Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, WGL) and is a partner of the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.). www.ddz.de/en
The German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) is a national association that brings together experts in the field of diabetes research and combines basic research, translational research, epidemiology and clinical applications. The aim is to develop novel strategies for personalized prevention and treatment of diabetes. Members are Helmholtz Munich – German Research Center for Environmental Health, the German Diabetes Center in Düsseldorf, the German Institute of Human Nutrition in Potsdam-Rehbrücke, the Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden of Helmholtz Munich at the University Medical Center Carl Gustav Carus of the TU Dresden and the Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of Helmholtz Munich at the Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen together with associated partners at the Universities in Heidelberg, Cologne, Leipzig, Lübeck and Munich. www.dzd-ev.de/en
