{"id":1853,"date":"2019-10-17T18:01:45","date_gmt":"2019-10-17T10:01:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/?p=1853"},"modified":"2023-08-04T17:12:37","modified_gmt":"2023-08-04T09:12:37","slug":"high-sugar-drinks-singapore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/high-sugar-drinks-singapore\/","title":{"rendered":"All you need to know about diabetes and high-sugar drinks in Singapore"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you are new to Southeast Asia, one of the first regional health problems to keep in mind is the high level of diabetes. It results from the region\u2019s eating habits which often involve high levels of sugar consumption. Singapore is by no means an exception to this trend. As the country\u2019s population is rapidly aging, health problems are also becoming more common, and surely, the overconsumption of sugar by residents in the Lion City\u2019s isn\u2019t helping.<\/p>\n

In this article by Pacific Prime Singapore<\/a>, we will explore the \u2018sugar problem\u2019 in Singapore, the Singaporean government\u2019s response, and go over the health problems associated with high-sugar intake.<\/p>\n

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High-sugar drinks in Singapore<\/h2>\n

In 2018, the Singaporean Ministry of Health<\/a> reported that Singaporeans consume on average 12 teaspoons (60g) of sugar daily, double the amount recommended by the WHO<\/a>. Sugar-sweetened beverages remain a significant contributor to Singapore\u2019s heavy sugar consumption levels, accounting for about half of the total average sugar intake per person.<\/p>\n

Singaporean government\u2019s response<\/h3>\n

To tackle this problem, the Singaporean government has declared an unprecedented plan to implement a total ban<\/a> on ads for packaged drinks with high sugar content levels. Furthermore, beverages with medium to high sugar content will be labeled as unhealthy on top of its packaging.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t the Singaporean government\u2019s first attempt to lower sugar consumption levels in the city-state. In 2017, the government reported that it had come to an agreement with soft-drink makers in the city to reduce the level of sugar content in beverages being sold to the public.<\/p>\n

However, the move to impose an ad ban on high-sugar drinks takes Singapore\u2019s \u2018war on diabetes\u2019 to the next level, making it the world\u2019s first country to implement similar advertising regulations on high-sugar drinks as those imposed on cigarettes and alcohol.<\/p>\n

In response, the Coca-Cola Company, the world\u2019s biggest sweet beverage maker, said it welcomed the plans<\/a> and will cooperate with the Singaporean government to lower the sugar levels in its drinks sold in Singapore.<\/p>\n

Health problems from high sugar intake<\/h2>\n

While death by sugar doesn\u2019t sound so intimidating, the sweet-tasting ingredient can cause a myriad of health problems, such as diabetes, a disease in which your blood glucose levels are too high.<\/p>\n

In 2014, 440,000 Singaporean<\/a> suffered from diabetes, and this number is estimated to reach 1 million by 2050. Having high blood sugar levels for prolonged periods of time can lead to serious health problems, including:<\/p>\n