You might think it's an old wives' tale that eating a lot of sugar puts you at risk for diabetes. However, in the July 28 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, investigators from Boston University and Harvard School of Public Health reported that regular intake of sugar-sweetened soft drinks and fruit drinks is associated with an increased risk for type 2 diabetes among black women.

This study observed 43,960 black women without diabetes who reported regularly on their food and beverage consumption. During the study period, 2,713 were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The researchers found that higher intake (at least 2 or more per day) of both sugar-sweetened soft drinks and fruit drinks was associated with a higher incidence of type 2 diabetes.

Fruit drinks are often marketed as a healthier alternative to soft drinks, but this study demonstrates that the potential health impact of fruit drinks with regard to diabetes is no different than soft drinks. Although this study was limited to black women, further studies might focus on the need to generate greater public awareness of the potential adverse effects of all sugar-sweetened drinks.