With the number of diabetes patients in Korea exceeding 5.3 million, the habit of consuming a single beverage each day is being cited as a factor driving this trend. Experts point out that sweet drinks people casually reach for actually raise blood sugar sharply and increase insulin resistance, making them a risk factor.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's 2024 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey released on the 26th, the diabetes prevalence rate among Korean adults was 13.3% for men and 7.8% for women, up 1.3 percentage points and 0.9 percentage points, respectively, from a year earlier. By age group, prevalence was highest among men in their 60s (35.5%) and women aged 70 and older (28.5%).
The number of adults aged 30 and older with diabetes exceeds 5.3 million, and when the pre-diabetic population is included, the figure approaches 20 million, meaning one in five citizens is in a state requiring blood sugar management, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
Research findings also indicate that sweetened beverages influence this trend. Carbonated drinks, fruit juices, and sports drinks containing high-fructose corn syrup are absorbed and digested quickly, sharply raising blood sugar, and regular, long-term consumption can lead to insulin resistance and weight gain, according to analysis by overseas researchers.
By contrast, sugar-free beverages containing artificial sweeteners showed a relatively lower association with the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Experts also cite simple sugar intake as a key variable in managing metabolic disease. They advise avoiding foods high in simple sugars, such as sugar, corn syrup, and soft drinks, because they increase calorie intake without providing nutritional value.
Overeating and irregular meals raise both post-meal blood sugar and body weight, while regular exercise enhances the body's ability to use glucose, helping to improve insulin resistance, according to a common explanation from medical professionals.
Since diabetes shows no clear symptoms in as many as 20% of cases, the disease may have already progressed for five to 10 years by the time of diagnosis. For this reason, some point out that adults aged 40 and older, or those aged 30 and older with risk factors, need to undergo regular checkups every year.
As a single sweet drink habitually consumed after lunch can lead to a long-term blood sugar burden, experts advise that the small choice of switching to water or unsweetened beverages can be a practical starting point for managing diabetes.
