Don't blame the sugar
I remember my grandfather calling his condition “sugar” or “sugar diabetes.”; however, it is a common misconception that sugar intake is a direct cause of diabetes. In fact, we really can’t blame the sugar. Insulin deficiency is the real culprit when it comes to diabetes. Insulin helps control blood glucose levels in the body, and diabetes occurs when the body isn’t able to properly use or produce insulin. Take a look at what happens in the body with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
A rather large study published in 2003 offers some support to the idea that sugar isn’t the problem. Among approximately 39,000 middle-aged women, researchers found that just a moderate amount of daily sugar (about 60 grams) was not significantly associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The exact cause of diabetes remains unknown. So what do we know about how diabetes develops? In type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune response, possibly triggered by infections or environmental factors, causes pancreatic cells that make insulin to be destroyed. Genetics could also play a role in type 1 diabetes.
However, type 2 diabetes remains somewhat of a mystery. A number of factors could put you at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Family history and genetics play a crucial role in type 2 diabetes as well, along with a number of other risk factors, such as age, ethnicity, obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, history of gestational diabetes, inactivity and prediabetes. There is a terrific page about causes of diabetes on WEGO Health where you can learn more about your risk and potential causes.
Although sugar isn’t a direct cause of diabetes, that doesn’t give you the license to go sugar crazy. Indulging in high-calorie sweets could lead to weight gain and increase your risk of diabetes.
A rather large study published in 2003 offers some support to the idea that sugar isn’t the problem. Among approximately 39,000 middle-aged women, researchers found that just a moderate amount of daily sugar (about 60 grams) was not significantly associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The exact cause of diabetes remains unknown. So what do we know about how diabetes develops? In type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune response, possibly triggered by infections or environmental factors, causes pancreatic cells that make insulin to be destroyed. Genetics could also play a role in type 1 diabetes.
However, type 2 diabetes remains somewhat of a mystery. A number of factors could put you at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Family history and genetics play a crucial role in type 2 diabetes as well, along with a number of other risk factors, such as age, ethnicity, obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, history of gestational diabetes, inactivity and prediabetes. There is a terrific page about causes of diabetes on WEGO Health where you can learn more about your risk and potential causes.
Although sugar isn’t a direct cause of diabetes, that doesn’t give you the license to go sugar crazy. Indulging in high-calorie sweets could lead to weight gain and increase your risk of diabetes.
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Comment by Felisha Griffin on April 4, 2008 at 6:36pm - Thanks, Debbie. That is a very good point.
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