When Bubble Tea Leads to Medical Emergencies

A friend of mine is pregnant, and she has been craving bubble tea. While it's not perceived as safe to drink and not condemned provided it is served with pasteurized juice or milk, I just didn't like the fact that she was craving what is not perceived as safe to use although people drank it.

While studying about the effect of bubble tea (boba tea), I came across a number of cases where people suffered from certain conditions as a result of taking lots of milk/bubble tea and I will be sharing these cases in this post.

In May 2020, there was a case of an 18 year old lady in China who began to crave for bubble tea (boba tea). She drank the tea daily and would continue to increase her intake until she found herself taking more and she was getting thirsty as she drank. She also drank other sugar drinks and beverages to quench her thirst. Soon as she took these drinks, she started to feel nausea and uncomfortable and would use the bathroom more often. She continued with her habit of taking bubble tea, and would take it increasingly until one day, she collapsed and passed out.

Blood tests revealed her blood sugar level had spiked 25 times higher than normal, a condition known as hyperglycemia. This surge in blood sugar was the result of excessive bubble tea consumption, ultimately leading to Diabetic Ketoacidosis. The consequences of her unchecked cravings placed her life in peril.

In 2019, a 16-year-old boy found himself in a similar predicament. He was rushed to the hospital with a blood sugar level 20 times higher than normal due to his excessive bubble tea and sugary drink habits. His experience mirrored the dangers of Diabetic Ketoacidosis, highlighting how relentless sugar consumption can lead to a life-threatening condition.

Another 14 year old girl also suffered this same fate in 2019 as a result of bubble tea. She began to experience abdominal pain, bloating, and constipation. She was unable to eat or have a bowel movement for days and when she arrived at the hospital, she was unable to eat and this lead to series of test and scan which revealed small objects which looked like tapioca pearls from bubble tea filling her digestive system. The doctors prescribed laxatives which helped her excrete the pearls from her digestive system.

Tapioca, derived from cassava, is usually easy to digest. However, these cases illustrate that excessive consumption can lead to digestive issues. Notably, there was a case in January 2020 where tapioca lumps had to be surgically removed from a patient's small intestine.

With Diabetic Ketoacidosis, there is not enough insulin produced in the body to lower the amount of sugar in the blood to process it to energy. When there is no enough insulin, fat is broken down as an emergency fuel source and the liver processes the fat into ketones. With the condition, fat is broken down rapidly and the body cannot proccess it fast enough. This causes the ketones to the distributed into the blood, thereby causing the blood to be acidic. This condition can lead to dehydration, coma, and death.

A simple glass cup of bubble tea which is about 16 ounce contains over 35 grams of sugar which is excess sugar according to the US Dietary guideline Advisory Committee. While I cannot say you should stop taking bubble tea, you can ask that the sugar be reduced but then, sugar can be addictive which is why a lot of people will not want to make that choice.

When taking bubble tea there is a possibility of choking on the tapioca pearls, this is not common, but it is possible. A case in 2019, where a 19 year old student choked on tapioca pearl (aspiration) as it went through the wrong pipe and found itself in the Trachea causing the student to collapse. She started to experience signs of lack of oxygen like her fingers going black after which she went into a coma and died from that event.

Bubble tea, with its sweet allure, can be enjoyed responsibly. However, these stories remind us of the hidden risks associated with excessive consumption as well as consuming without caution which led to death from chocking. Diabetic Ketoacidosis, choking hazards, and digestive issues are just some of the potential consequences of not moderately consuming these sweet tea. While enjoying bubble tea is a treat, it is essential to be mindful of your sugar intake and the physical risks posed by tapioca pearls. Your health should always be a priority before pleasure.

---

---

Image Reference

---

---

• Image 1 || Wikimedia Commons || Ice bubble milk tea with tapioca balls of Mister Donut in Japan
• Image 2 || Pexels || EMT Pushing Woman On A Stretcher