Research: Diet Drinks Increase Diabetes Risk by 129%

A new scientific study calls into question the benefits of diet drinks for those wanting to lose weight. The results of the research, presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition NUTRITION 2025, indicate an unexpected connection between consumption of such beverages and the development of diabetes. Detailed findings are published in the journal Current Developments in Nutrition.

Scientists analyzed a large dataset from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, which began back in 1985. This long-term project involved 4,654 people, with women making up almost 55% of the total number of volunteers. At the start of the observations, the average age of participants was 25 years.

The results were shocking: people who regularly consumed large amounts of diet drinks had a 129% higher probability of developing diabetes compared to those who hardly drank such beverages.

Of particular concern is the connection with specific sweeteners. For instance, participants who consumed the highest amounts of saccharin had a 110% higher risk of developing diabetes than those who minimally used this artificial sweetener in their diet.