Drinking Cola Increase Gestational Diabetes Risks

Filed in archive Medical Issues on December 22, 2009

© /pitzyper!

For the first time, a scientific study links the consumption of sugary cola drinks to gestational diabetes. Apparently, drinking more than 5 servings of sugar- sweetened cola a week prior to pregnancy elevate the risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy by about 22%.

Although the underlying mechanism remains unclear, available evidence suggests that the main defect in the development of GDM is relatively diminished insulin secretion coupled with pregnancy-induced insulin resistance. The researchers discuss a number of explanations of their findings. Consuming a large amount of sugar-sweetened beverages could contribute to a high glycemic load (GL) by providing a large amount of rapidly absorbable sugars. High-GL foods induce a greater plasma glucose response after eating which can result in insulin resistance and impaired beta cell function. (Pancreatic beta cells make insulin.) In addition, higher sugar intake itself may lead to impaired pancreatic cell function.

Interestingly, the association was only found in sugar-sweetened cola, but not other types of sugar-sweetened beverages - fruit drinks, other soft drinks, etc.