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In Indonesia, sugary drinks such as bubble tea, sweetened coffee, soft drinks, energy drinks, and packaged teas have become part of young people’s daily lives, largely because they are cheap, convenient, and appealing in taste.

This growing habit is becoming a public health concern as many young people consume these drinks regularly without realizing how much added sugar they contain. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost half of Indonesians aged over three consume more than one sugar-sweetened beverage per day, while nearly one in five Indonesian teenagers is overweight.

A Habit That’s Hard to Break

Consuming sugary drinks, including packaged drinks, soda, energy drinks, and trendy beverages like boba, has become a habit among young people. This is concerning, as these drinks contain high levels of sugar. A study of adolescents in East Jakarta found that 55.1% consumed high amounts of packaged sugar-sweetened beverages, at least three times a day.

How Big Is Indonesia’s Diabetes Problem?

Data from Indonesia show a sharp rise in diabetes cases. The International Diabetes Federation reports that the number of adults aged 20-79 with diabetes rise from about 5.7 million in 2000 to 20.4 million in 2024, ranking Indonesia fifth worldwide. The Ministry of Health also recorded prevalence rising from 6.9% in 2013 to 8.5% in 2018, or 10.9% under the 2015 PERKENI consensus. 

Diabetes is no longer just a health issue for the elderly. The habit of consuming high-sugar foods and beverages from a young age also poses a health risk later in life. The WHO recommends limiting free sugar intake to less than 10% of total daily energy intake. or about 50 grams for a 2,000-calorie diet.

Diabetes can develop from several factors, including unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, excess body weight, and genetics. Because sugary drinks don’t create the same fullness as solid food, people can easily over-consume calories, contributing to weight gain and a higher risk of diabetes.

How Sugar Leads to Diabetes

The development of diabetes is closely related to how the body regulates blood sugar. When we consume sugary drinks, the sugar is broken down into glucose and enters the bloodstream. The pancreas then produces insulin, a hormone that helps glucose move from the blood into the body’s cells to be used as energy. However, when the body becomes less sensitive to insulin, glucose cannot enter the cells effectively and remains in the bloodstream. If this happens repeatedly over time, blood sugar levels can become too high, increasing the risk of diabetes. 

The Real Cost of Diabetes

Diabetes carries serious impacts, including serious complications like cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, blindness, and lower-limb amputations. Diabetes also creates a major economic burden through treatment expenses. However, the costs go beyond healthcare, diabetes-related complications can cause disability, absenteeism, reduced productivity, and even premature death. The global economic cost of diabetes and its consequences was estimated to range from $1.3 trillion in 2015 to $2.5 trillion by 2030.

Diabetes also has a social impact, falling hardest on lower-income groups who struggle to access nutritious food and healthcare, while caregivers often face financial pressure and emotional stress. 

So, What Can You Actually Do?

In spite of these challenges, healthier lifestyles can help prevent the risk of diabetes. With small, consistent changes, including eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and limiting sugar intake, along with regular check-ups for early detection helps in maintaining one’s health. On the other hand, people who are already affected by diabetes can prevent further complications by following medical advice, taking prescribed medication accordingly, monitoring sugar levels, and maintaining healthy habits.

Most young people are unaware of the far more significant impact of seemingly harmless daily habits, such as consuming sugary drinks. As evidence presented shows, the rising prevalence of sweet drinks among youth in Indonesia is closely linked to the increasing incidence of diabetes in the country, which threatens future productivity and societal well being. Therefore, to reverse this trend, both the government and society must take responsibility to ensure access to healthy options and health services, while young people make wiser choices before these habits become a major health crisis.

References:

• Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Diabetes: What it is, causes, symptoms, treatment & types. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/7104-diabetes
• Kementerian Kesehatan Republik Indonesia. (2018, November 2). Potret kesehatan Indonesia dari Riskesdas 2018.
• Sari, S. L., Utari, D. M., & Sudiarti, T. (2021). Konsumsi minuman berpemanis kemasan pada remaja. Ilmu Gizi Indonesia, 5(1), 91–100. https://doi.org/10.35842/ilgi.v5i1.253
• Wang, N. (2024). The burden and impact of diabetes on society. Bonvadis. https://bonvadis.com/us-en/the-burden-and-impact-of-diabetes-on-society-us-en/
• World Health Organization. (2015, March 4). WHO guideline: Sugar consumption recommendation.
• World Health Organization. (2023). Reducing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages to reduce the risk of unhealthy weight gain in adults. https://www.who.int/tools/elena/interventions/ssbs-adult-weight
• World Health Organization. (2026, January 27). Indonesia develops new regulations to tackle unhealthy food consumption. https://www.who.int/indonesia/news-room/item/27-01-2026-indonesia-develops-new-regulations-to-tackle-unhealthy-food-consumption