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Health
Swapping sugary drinks for coffee, tea or water linked to fewer deaths in adults with diabetes
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For adults with type 2 diabetes, replacing sugary drinks with coffee, tea, or plain water is linked to lower rates of early death due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and other causes, finds research published by The BMJ.
A greater increase in coffee and tea consumption from before to after a diabetes diagnosis was also associated with lower death rates. These findings highlight the potential role of healthy beverage choices in managing risk for adults with type 2 diabetes, say the authors.
In 2021, over 500 million adults worldwide had type 2 diabetes, which carries an increased risk of CVD and premature death, and this number is set to rise to 783 million by 2045.
Diet plays a key role in managing diabetes, but little is known about intake of specific types of beverages in relation to death and CVD among adults with type 2 diabetes.
To fill this knowledge gap, researchers drew on data for 15,486 adults (74% women; average age 61 years) with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes who were part of the Nurses’ Health Study (1980-2018) and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (1986-2018) in the United States.
Beverage consumption was assessed using a validated food questionnaire and updated every two to four years. This included sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs), artificially sweetened (low-calorie) beverages (ASBs), fruit juice, coffee, tea, low fat and full fat milk, and plain water.
During an average 18.5 years of follow-up, the researchers recorded 3,447 cases of CVD and 7,638 deaths.
After accounting for other lifestyle factors and medical history, they found that participants with the highest intake of SSBs (more than 1 serving a day) had a 20% increased risk of death from any cause compared with participants with the lowest intake (less than 1 serving a month).
In contrast, high intakes of certain beverages (up to 6 servings a day) were associated with lower mortality: 26% lower for coffee, 21% for tea, 23% for plain water, and 12% for low fat milk.
Similar associations were seen between the individual beverages and CVD rates and mortality. In particular, SSB intake was associated with a 25% higher risk of CVD and a 29% higher risk of CVD related mortality, whereas intake of coffee and low fat milk were associated with an 18% and 12% lower risk of CVD, respectively.
Compared with those who did not change their consumption of coffee in the period after a diabetes diagnosis, an 18% lower all cause mortality was seen in those who increased their consumption of coffee. A similar pattern for all cause mortality was also found for tea, and low fat milk.
Replacing SSBs with ASBs was also associated with lower all cause mortality and CVD mortality, and replacing SSBs, ASBs, fruit juice, or full fat milk with coffee, tea, or plain water was consistently associated with lower all cause mortality.
This is an observational study, so can’t establish cause, and the researchers acknowledge that individual beverage consumption may be linked to other dietary and lifestyle risk factors for CVD and mortality among adults with diabetes, and they can’t rule out the possibility that measurement errors or misclassification may have influenced the results.
However, this was a large study with a long follow-up period, high response rates, and detailed and repeated assessments of dietary and lifestyle variables before and after a diabetes diagnosis.
As such, they conclude: “Overall, these results provide additional evidence that emphasises the importance of beverage choices in maintaining overall health among adults with diabetes.” Further studies are warranted to replicate and further explore these important associations, they add.
This new study extends our understanding of the health implications of different beverages to adults with type 2 diabetes, says Nita Forouhi at the MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, in a linked editorial.
Questions remain, however, such as the effect of adding sugar to coffee or tea, and the impact of other popular drinks, like milkshakes, smoothies, and hot chocolate, she writes. It is also unclear whether the findings apply to different population groups as the study focused on predominantly white US health professionals.
Nevertheless, choice of beverage clearly matters, she says. The case for avoiding sugar sweetened beverages is compelling in the general population, and it is reasonable to shift the focus to drinks that are most likely to have positive health effects: coffee, tea, plain water, and low fat milk, she concludes.
Journal
The BMJ
Method of Research
Observational study
Subject of Research
People
Article Title
Beverage consumption and mortality among adults with type 2 diabetes: prospective cohort study
Article Publication Date
19-Apr-2023
COI Statement
All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form at www.icmje.org/disclosure-of-interest/ and declare: support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the submitted work; JEM has been supported by grants from NIH. FBH has been supported by grants HL60712, HL118264, and DK112940 from NIH and received research support from the California Walnut Commission, honorariums for lectures from Metagenics and Standard Process, and honorariums from Diet Quality Photo Navigation, outside the submitted work; VM has received research support from Canada Research Chairs Program, Connaught New Researcher Award, University of Toronto, and The Joannah and Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition, University of Toronto, received consulting fees from the World Health Organization Nutrition Guidance Expert Advisory Group, and has held a leadership role in Canadian Institutes of Health Research Advisory Board, Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes. No other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work
Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.
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The freshness of spring is giving way to the languor of summer. It’s also that time of year when I step up my health and fitness habits, with the help of a wellness weekend getaway. Check out these ten wholesome ways to experience Whistler.
1. Eat well, be well at a new event series
Making its debut the Nourish Spring Series by Cornucopia celebrates the season every weekend in June with farm-to-table fare, farm tours, lavish wellness dinners, healthy brunches and activities to refresh both mind and body. Sit down to a four-course spring harvest tasting menu (Brome Lake duck breast with Pemberton beets, anyone?), brush up on grilling skills with an expert chef, pick up painting pointers on an art picnic or jump into an outdoor Zumba class. Order tickets online at whistler.com/events/spring-cornucopia.
2. Chill at a spa
With more than 12 spa facilities in town, it could be said that Whistler has everyone’s back. Pop into the Whistler Day Spa for a 75-minute stress relief massage using Swedish relaxation techniques or the Taman Sari Royal Heritage Spa for an 80-minute herbal steam massage using pouches filled with Javanese turmeric, ginger and other spices. Have more time? Dip into the hot-cold-and-relaxing thermal journey at the silent Scandinave Spa Whistler, home to open-air pools, cold-plunge baths, a Finnish sauna, Nordic showers and solariums in a tranquil forest setting.
3. Lace up for new guided hikes
Trek past alpine meadows flush with wildflowers on the way to glacier-fed Garibaldi Lake or meander through a fragrant rainforest before taking a dip in Crater Rim’s warm Loggers Lake. These are just a couple of guided hike options from Mountain Skills Academy & Adventures. Prefer to stay close to town? Sign up for the Whistler Alpine Hike and explore the gondola-accessed terrain of Whistler Blackcomb.
4. Embark on an ebike adventure
Sneak in some good clean fun with an ebike rental or guided tour. Explore Whistler’s car-free Valley Trail, a 46-km network of paved paths and boardwalks linking the resort town’s neighbourhoods and lakes, beaches, parks and viewpoints along the way. Go it alone or hop on a full-suspension electric-assist mountain bike with Whistler Eco Tours for a two-hour guided ride. Prefer an old-school ride or want to hit the alpine trails? Comfort cruisers, cross-country and downhill bikes are also on hand.
5. Expand the mind at an Indigenous exhibit
You have until October to view, the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre’s Unceded: A Photographic Journey into Belonging. Shot at striking locales throughout the Sea to Sky Corridor, the exhibit brings together aspects of ancient traditions, modern Indigenous life, and colonization and development. Behold the bear dancer on Blackcomb Mountain, the cultural chief in the Fairmont Chateau Whistler lobby and the Squamish Nation chair standing in the middle of downtown Vancouver’s West Cordova St.
6. Get down, be healthy at a new café
Boogie back in time to the ’70s and ’80s at the new Rockit Coffee in Whistler Creekside. From the speaker-lined wall and vintage phones, radios and ghetto blasters to menu items like Espresso Greatest Hits and Drinks Just Wanna Have Fun, the colourful café exudes a decidedly retro vibe. Pull up a chair and order a nutritious Aero-Smoothie – choose from the Green Day, Bananarama or Strawberry Fields Forever – and pair it with a Veggie Eilish breakfast wrap or Prosciutto Rhapsody sandwich.
7. Check into wellness
Go for the Fairmont Chateau Whistler’s healthful options like daily yoga classes, guided excursions and access to pools, steam rooms, the fitness centre, tennis court and (soon) new pickle ball courts. But stay for the regionally sourced seasonal menus – complemented by the rooftop garden’s bounty from May to October – and no-proof cocktail selection in the Mallard Lounge.
8. Float down a winding river
Canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard along the meandering five-km-long River of Golden Dreams. After putting in at Alta Lake, paddle past riverbanks lined with wildflowers, foliage and forest, all the while keeping an eye out for beavers, otters, eagles and bears. Newbie paddlers are advised to go with a guide, as changing water levels can make for tricky steering and mandatory portages.
9. Connect with nature on a new birding trail
Watch for whiskey jacks, Clark’s nutcrackers and, come summer, lots and lots of swallows along the Sea to Sky Bird Trail. The fifth and most recent route to be added to the BC Bird Trail network along the Pacific Flyway, the new trail takes birders to alpine heights (lift ticket required) where they can spot olive-sided flycatchers and various raptors. Then it’s off to Rainbow Park on Alta Lake to spy common yellow throats and merlins.
10. Wake up beside a lake
Perched along the southern tip of Nita Lake in Whistler Creekside, Nita Lake Lodge checks off all the boxes for a dreamy wellness escape. Start with stunning water and valley views from luxe suites, currently undergoing a modern refresh slated to wrap in time for summer. Then there’s the new onsite restaurant, The Den, where plant-based alternatives share space with meat and seafood items on the seasonal menus. Topping off a salubrious stay at Whistler’s only lakeside hotel is an award-winning spa with rooftop hot tubs.
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Manitoba researchers looking for people to take part in a national HIV Stigma Index project are only about halfway to their goal of hearing from at least 75 people living with a positive diagnosis.
The international peer-driven research project helps understand the stigma associated with HIV and supports those living with a diagnosis.
“I wouldn’t say that anybody ran out and said ‘I’m gonna go get HIV today and see how that happens.’ Things happen to people and it’s our duty as human beings to support people no matter what they’re going through,” research co-ordinator Arthur Miller told CBC Information Radio Wednesday.
The Canadian HIV Stigma Index is a community-led and community-based research study, part of the international implementation of the People Living with HIV Stigma Index project
Participants are interviewed by another person living with a positive diagnosis. Interviews are about an hour-and-a-half long and can be done in person, by phone or through a video conferencing platform, said Miller, a Mi’kmaw HIV activist based out of Nova Scotia and research co-ordinator of the project with REACH Nexus, under the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at Unity Health Toronto.
The national project has been done in Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic Canada and British Columbia, and this is the second time it’s being done in Manitoba, with an updated survey.
Researchers collect information related to stigma, discrimination and human rights, with the aim of better understanding the social determinants and stigma across systems like health care, schools and legal fields. The research aims to help people develop supports and policies at both local and national levels.
Peer-driven aspect crucial
Jared Star, a research manager at Winnipeg’s Nine Circles Community Health Centre, which specializes in HIV prevention and care, said the HIV Stigma Index’s peer-driven aspect is crucial for participants.
“They know that they won’t be judged,” he said. “They won’t have to explain situations and details that come naturally for them, because they’re talking to somebody with the same experience.”
Star is also a research consultant and PhD student with expertise in sexual health, alongside his work with Nine Circles, which is working closely with Miller on the project.
“It’s better for the study if we can collect the data in a shorter period of time, but because it’s qualitative research, it tends to take longer than a survey,” said Star. “But the more we can get up front and faster, the better.”
Star said the information gained from the project will help people move from a place of supporting and sustaining stigma to actively challenging and resisting it.
“I think if we do a good job and we’re able to get that information and then develop interventions that target stigma, we will be able to contribute to a reduction in HIV infections in Manitoba,” he said.
Education key to understanding
Much more is known about HIV now than 30 years ago — like how to prevent transmission and that it’s no longer a death sentence.
With proper care, people who are HIV positive can lead long, healthy lives.
Miller said education is key and pointed to the fact that many don’t understand somebody with an undetectable viral load who adheres to treatment can’t transmit HIV through sexual intercourse.
“This is big for people with HIV,” he said. “For me, it felt like I got part of my life back.”
Manitobans willing to share their experiences through the HIV Stigma Index project can contact Miller at arthur.miller@unityhealth.to or by phone at 1-877-347-1175 to begin the process.
“The great thing about this study is we’re building this network of people living with HIV,” Miller said. “You’re going to be talking with someone living with HIV, so they can relate and share some experiences.”
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This is Oakville’s coronavirus update for Saturday, May 27, 2023. New, active cases of COVID-19 in Halton have nearly doubled for the second week in a row, and outbreaks at local long-term care homes are growing.
Oakville is reporting 22 new cases this week, about the same as the week before. But these last two reports from Halton regional health are the highest numbers of new cases in months – and active cases are now trending upwards by 50-100% weekly.
The outbreak that opened earlier this month at Oakville’s West Oak Village long-term care home has been contained to the Harbour floor. But there are two new outbreaks that have opened this week in other parts of Halton, including one at Oakville’s Northridge home on the Chisholm floor.
Halton continues to fall behind on our booster shots: only 1 of every 10 people in Halton have a full series of immunization, and the percentage of residents with outdated immunization has grown every week since the start of 2023. Among those 40 and under, those fully immunized is now below 5%.
The United States this week has said they and the CDC will no longer be tracking new, aggregate daily COVID-19 cases and deaths or new nationwide testing data.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that after more than three years, the COVID-19 global health emergency is now over. WHO has determined that “COVID-19 is now an established and ongoing health issue which no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).”
765 million cases of COVID-19 have now been recorded worldwide since the start of the pandemic; 6.9 million people have died.
**Vaccine booking: Fourth doses (second booster doses) of vaccine are now available for anyone in Halton age 5 and up, though fourth doses must be at least five months since your last dose and 90 days since having COVID-19.
Halton continues to book first and second-dose vaccinations for all residents age six months and older, plus third-dose boosters for anyone age 5 and up.
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