Is Sugar the real cause of Diabetes? Things you should know about Diabetes

Since diabetes is a disease characterized by high blood sugar levels, many people wonder whether eating sugar can cause it.

While it’s true that eating large amounts of added sugar may increase your risk of diabetes, sugar intake is just one piece of the problem.

Many other factors including overall diet, lifestyle and genetics also impact your risk. The question of whether sugar directly causes type 2 diabetes is a bit complicated.

In this article, we’ll explain whether sugar causes diabetes.

WHAT IS DIABETES

Diabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels are too high, it’s all too easy to think eating too much sugar is the cause. But what’s the truth about sugar and how does it affect diabetes?

There are two types of Diabetes;

• First diabetes, the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas are destroyed by your immune system.
• Second diabetes Occurs when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin when your body’s cells no longer respond to the insulin it produces or both.

WHAT IS SUGAR

When most people talk about sugar, they’re referring to sucrose, or table sugar, which is made from sugar beets or sugarcane.

Sugar is found naturally in fruit, vegetables (fructose) and dairy foods (lactose). It’s also added to food and drink by food manufacturers, or by ourselves at home.

These types of added sugars are called ‘free sugars’ and they are also present in pure fruit juices, smoothies, syrups and honey. The debate about sugar and health is mainly around free sugars.

Glucose from sugar is mostly used by your body for energy, while fructose is taken to your liver for conversion into glucose or fat. High fructose intake has been linked to elevated triglycerides, fatty liver and gout.

DOES SUGAR CAUSE DIABETES

Since diabetes is a disease characterized by high blood sugar levels, many people wonder whether eating sugar can cause it.

Sugar does not cause type 1 diabetes, nor is it caused by anything else in your lifestyle. In type 1 diabetes, the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas are destroyed by your immune system.

With type 2 diabetes, the answer is a little more complex. Though we know sugar doesn’t directly cause type 2 diabetes, you are more likely to get it if you are overweight. You gain weight when you take in more calories than your body needs, and sugary foods and drinks contain a lot of calories.

However, sugar-sweetened drinks, like canned soft drinks, are associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, and this is not necessarily linked to their effect on body weight.

While sugar intake can influence diabetes risk, it’s far from the only contributing factor. Other diets, lifestyles and genetic factors also play a role.