We've been linking the massive increase in diabetes with increased obesity in the US. Now it's likely that we should focus more on our choices. As you can tell by this article, the researchers are trying to come up with an explanation as to why sugary drinks seem to increase diabetes with or without the presence of obesity since they've "known" that obesity is what causes type II diabetes.
I believe the truth is that sweets/sugars are chemicals to our bodies. We were never designed to be exposed to these purified sugar compounds (and refined flours for that matter) and this exposure repeatedly day after day, year after year has created diabetes AND obesity.
In 1895, the average American consumed about 3-4 lbs of refined carbs in a year and diabetes was number 100 on the disease list. Today, we consume approximately 170 lbs of sugar (and high fructose corn syrup) per year and diabetes has crept into the top 10 killers in the US. Diabetes steals people's quality of life as much as it kills. Diabetes causes blindness, permanent nerve damage, the need for amputations, and kidney damage causing people to go on dialysis.
What this study is saying is that you can no longer use your weight as a determination as to whether or not you are handling sugars/carbs well. If you are interested in living a long time, sweets and refined carbohydrates should be the first thing you get rid of.
Soda Ups Diabetes Risk With or Without Weight Gain
A recent study has also suggested that fructose, the main sweetener in these drinks, may be linked to high blood pressure as well as increases in LDL and triglycerides.
