While we support sugar reduction as an important measure to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, we are very aware that people living with diabetes may rely on sugary food or drink to treat hypoglycemia, also known as hypos or low blood sugar.
Here we talk about some of the key concerns and advice we give to people using sugary soft drinks and foods to treat their hypos.
Why is the government focusing on reducing sugar in our soft drinks?
On average, we’re all eating too much sugar. This can lead to weight gain and in turn increase our risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other health conditions such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. That’s why the government has proposed some changes to the soft drinks industry levy to encourage further reduction of sugar content in soft drinks.
The Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL), sometimes called the sugar tax, charges manufacturers for producing soft drinks that are high in added sugar. It has successfully encouraged some manufacturers to change their recipes to reduce the sugar content in their drinks.
What has the impact of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (sugar tax) been so far?
The Soft Drinks Industry Levy has led to a 46% reduction in sugar levels in soft drinks from 2015-2020. In turn, recent evidence suggests that the levy may have already prevented over 5000 cases of obesity per year amongst Year 6 girls, as well as being associated with a 12% reduction in hospital admissions for tooth extractions amongst children aged 0-18 years.
In addition, the levy has raised over £1.5 billion, which has supported investment in children’s health, such as establishing a National School Breakfast Programme and supporting the Holidays Food and Activities Programme.
What changes is the government making to the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (sugar tax)?
In the government Budget on 30th October 2024, the Chancellor confirmed that the Soft Drinks Industry Levy will be uprated in line with inflation, and that, for the first time, going forward it will be linked to inflation.
Further to this, the government also announced that it will review the current thresholds to the levy to greater incentivise reformulation and it will review extending the levy to sugar-sweetened milk and alternative-milk based drinks.
Do we support the proposed changes to the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (sugar tax)?
Yes, we do. Reducing current rates of overweight and obesity will help to reduce the numbers of people developing type 2 diabetes, and can help people living with diabetes to reduce their risk of complications. And one measure we need to do this is reducing the amount of sugar we're all eating.
But we’re aware that these measures have caused concern for people who use sugary drinks to treat hypos, as it could lead to a further change in the carbohydrate and sugar content of many commonly used products.
Will the sugar content of my hypo treatment change and how will I know if it has?
The government is going to do a review about the thresholds for sugar content in soft drinks for the Soft Drinks Industry Levy and consider an extension to milk and milk-alternative based drinks. If they do decide to make these changes, it is likely that some drinks commonly used to treat hypos could change their recipes.
The food industry will decide what to do next if changes are made to the levy. Some may reduce the sugar content in their products and some will choose to make no changes to their recipes. It may not always be clear if and when companies have reduced the sugar content of their products, and they may not publicise any changes, although we recommend the government to consider food labelling as part of the consultation.
It's also possible that when a company does change the sugar content, there may be a time when both old and new recipes of the same product are on sale at the same time, as the old recipe sells out.
This means it's vital that if you use a sugary drink to treat a hypo that you regularly check the label of the product you use, to make sure you consume enough to treat a hypo.
You may also want to have a conversation with your diabetes team about the different options and best treatments for a hypo, to ensure that you're having the appropriate amount of carbohydrate for you. If you or someone you are caring for is having hypos regularly, we recommend you speak to the diabetes team, so that they can review your current diabetes management plan and discuss and agree any changes including hypo treatment options.
We have lots of information about managing and treating hypos. Plus, find out more about how to read food labels and you can download our free guide to food labels
I often use sugary drinks and I'm aware they may change the recipe, what does this mean for treating hypos?
Many many manufacturers have reduced the amount of sugar in their soft drink products since the levy was first introduced in 2018, and the proposed changes to the levy could lead to further reductions.
We know that people use lots of different products to treat their hypos. It is likely that the sugar content of these will change over time as well, so it’s important to check the label of your hypo treatment of choice regularly.
Will the levy make my hypo treatment of choice more expensive?
For products that are already covered by the Soft Drinks Industry Levy, the decision to raise the levy in line with inflation means it is likely that those products will become more expensive if the manufacturers pass this cost on to consumers.
When the levy was introduced, the majority of manufacturers chose to reduce the sugar content in their products to avoid the added charge. If the thresholds do change, we don’t yet know whether they will change their recipes again or whether they will then start to pay the levy.
We won’t know the full impact until the changes are confirmed and introduced, but we'll be keeping a close eye on this, as will the government. It is also possible that these products may increase in price for reasons other than the sugar content.
You might be able to get hypo treatments like glucose gel, glucose tablets and dextrose tablets on prescription - you can talk to your diabetes team about this.
What other products can I use to treat hypos?
Adults should treat a hypo immediately with 15 to 20g of fast-acting carbohydrate – as long it contains this amount, then it will be suitable.
There are many options for treating a hypo. Examples include sugary non-diet drinks, glucose tablets, sweets such as jelly babies, pure fruit juice or glucose gels. Some treatments (glucose gels, liquids, and tablets) may be prescribed for free for people with diabetes at risk of hypos.
The choice of hypo treatment is very individual – it will depend on a number of things such as what works best for you, taste preference and how easy it is to store and carry.
We've got more advice on choosing a hypo treatment, or speak to your healthcare team for more advice.
And for more information or advice, contact our helpline. Or, if you are concerned about the cost of hypo treatments, you can read our page on diabetes and benefits.
