Do you like drinking fruit juice, soda, energy drinks, and sports drinks that have added sugar? According to research, they may increase your risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D).

However, according to US researchers from Brigham Young University, dietary sugars added to or ingested in nutrient-dense meals such as whole grains, dairy products, or fruits do not result in metabolic excess in the liver.

According to the researchers, these embedded carbohydrates cause delayed blood glucose responses because they are accompanied by fibre, lipids, proteins, and other healthy elements.

Researchers analysed data from more than half a million individuals on many continents for the study, which was published in the journal Advances in Nutrition.

They discovered that the risk of getting type 2 diabetes rose by 25% for every extra 350 ml serving of sugar-sweetened beverages (such as energy drinks, sports drinks, and soft drinks) consumed daily.

This high correlation demonstrated that there was no minimal level below which ingestion seemed safe, and that the elevated risk started with the very first daily dose.

The risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes rose by 5% for every extra 250 millilitres (ml) of fruit juice consumed daily (i.e., 100% fruit juice, nectars, and juice drinks).

Lead author Karen Della Corte, a professor of nutritional science at BYU, said, “This is the first study to draw clear dose-response relationships between different sugar sources and type 2 diabetes risk.”

“It highlights why drinking your sugar — whether from soda or juice — is more problematic for health than eating it,” she said.

According to the study, fruit juice and drinks with added sugar provide isolated sugars, which raises the glycemic effect and overwhelms and disrupts liver metabolism, raising insulin resistance and liver fat.

“This study underscores the need for even more stringent recommendations for liquid sugars such as those in sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juice, as they appear to harmfully associate with metabolic health,” Della Corte said.