A sugary drink a day raises risk of diabetes

Swapping a daily sugary drink for water or unsweetened tea or coffee can lower the risk of diabetes by up to 25%, research has suggested.

A study by the University of Cambridge also found that for every 5% increase of a person’s total energy intake provided by sugar-sweetened drinks, the risk of developing type-2 diabetes may increase by 18%.

Researchers analysed a separate large-scale study of more than 25,000 people aged 40 to 79 living in Norfolk who recorded everything they ate and drank. During around 11 years of follow-up, 847 participants were diagnosed with new-onset type 2 diabetes.