Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Are Linked with Mortality and Cardiovascular Disease in People with Diabetes

In prospective cohort studies in the general population, intake of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with excess risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD); higher intake of plain water, low-fat milk, and coffee is associated with lower risk for these conditions (as well as obesity and early mortality). Among people with diabetes, however, we know little about how beverage choice affects CVD and mortality.

Researchers analyzed data from two large, long-running prospective cohort studies with 170,000 total participants; the researchers identified 15,000 individuals who had type 2 diabetes at enrollment or developed it during follow-up and who had no CVD or cancer at baseline or before developing diabetes. Beverage consump…