Drinking artificially-sweetened soft drinks increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by more than a third, a new study has warned.

Whilst artificial sweeteners have been recommended for those at risk of developing diabetes as a better alternative to sugar-sweetened beverages, researchers at Monash University in Melbourne found drinking one of these soft drinks a day increases the diabetes risk by 38 per cent.

About 1.3 million Australians are affected by type 2 diabetes, with most cases linked to diet and lifestyle.

Consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks also increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, and the link between the two is often explained through obesity.

However, the study found the link between artificial sweeteners and diabetes remained strong even after adjusting for body weight, indicating artificial sweeteners could directly impact metabolism.

Professor Barbora de Courten from Monash University said the study challenged some assumptions surrounding artificially sweetened soft drinks.

“Artificial sweeteners are often recommended to people at risk of diabetes as a healthier alternative, but our results suggest they may pose their own health risks,” she said. 

De Courten claims the study should be a message for consumers and policymakers alike.

“We support measures like sugary drink taxes,” she said.

“But our study shows we also need to pay attention to artificially sweetened options.”