I think that diet coke actually pulses through my veins rather than blood. I truly am addicted. In fact, I can hardly function after lunch if I don’t drink my daily can of diet coke. In medical school, while on my psychiatry rotation, I even approached one of the addiction specialists to help me get over my ‘diet coke dependence’. I tried so hard to avoid diet coke, and I only lasted a good solid month. For some of us, diet caffeinated drinks just get us through the day, or night (especially when you’re on call!).
If you’re an avid diet soda drinker, listen up. People with diets filled with artifically sweetened sugars or sodium, may be at risk for faster kidney decline. A recent study conducted at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and presented at the American Society of Nephrology’s annual meeting revealed a very significant twofold increase in quickened kidney function decline with 2 or more servings per day of artificially sweetened soda. The mechanisms by which artificial sweeteners affects the kidney is at this point yet unknown.
A second study using the same 3000 female participants showed that in women with well-preserved kidney function, high dietary sodium intake was associated with greater kidney function decline as well.
The actual data is not published yet, but you can read more here. And, for all my regular coke-drinking-friends who are saying I told you so, don’t think that regular sodas are innocuous!
For the record, the ‘artificially sweetened drinks’ category also includes iced teas, juices, and anything that contains aspartame or even splenda.
Pictured below: My co-intern, Dave Svec, and I having way too much fun on call. Clearly someone has an addiction. Let’s just say, it isn’t me, haha.
