Too much sugar-laced cola raises diabetes risk in pregnant women

By David Liu

Drinking too much sugar-sweetened cola a week prior to pregnancy may increase risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy, according to a new study.

The study published in the Dec. 2009 issue of Diabetes Care shows that women who consumed more than 5 servings per week of sugar-sweetened cola were at 22 percent increased risk of developing Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared to those who drank less than 1 serving per month.

Liwei Chen from from LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Public Health and colleagues from other organizations looked at data from 13,475 women participating in the Nurses Health Study II and sought to find if there is any association between sugar consumption and risk of diabetes during pregnancy.

During 10 years of follow-up, 860 incident cases of GDM were identified.

After adjustment for known risk factors for GDM such as age, family history of diabetes, parity, physical activity, smoking status, sugar-sweetened beverage intake, alcohol intake, pregnancy BMI, and Western dietary pattern, intake of sugar-sweetened cola was associated with increased risk of the diabetes.

No association was found between other sugar-sweetened beverages or diet beverages and risk of diabetes.

Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)were at higher risk for complications and illness during pregnancy and delivery, as well as post-pregnancy type 2 diabetes, according to a press release by Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.

And children born to mothers who have GDM are at increased risk for obesity, glucose intolerance, and early onset diabetes.

Intake of large amounts of sugar-sweetened beverages contribute to a high glycemic load and may induce greater plasma glucose response which can lead to insulin resistance and impaired beta cell function in the pancreas.