Can you get diabetes from eating too much sugar?
Published 2 May 2017
Sugar is irresistible to most people. So irresistible, in fact, that sugar cravings might be rooted in evolution. Craving sugary foods, or so the theory goes, could help prevent starvation.
In a modern world, however, where food is often plentiful, sugar consumption is linked to diabetes, obesity, and other health problems. Research into the connection between sugar consumption and diabetes is ongoing. Most doctors argue that sugar alone does not trigger diabetes. But some emerging research suggests a closer link between sugar consumption and diabetes than was previously thought.
Can people get diabetes from eating too much sugar?
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes affect the body's ability to regulate blood glucose levels. But eating sugar will not cause type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, which causes the body to attack cells that produce insulin. Damage to these cells undermines the body's ability to manage blood glucose.
Type 2 diabetes is more complex. Sugar consumption will not directly cause diabetes. However, excess sugar consumption can cause weight gain. Obesity increases the risk of diabetes.
Once a person has diabetes, eating too much sugar can make symptoms worse, since diabetes makes it more difficult for the body to manage blood sugar levels.
Understanding the link between sugar and diabetes
Although eating sugar is not directly linked to developing diabetes, some evidence suggests that increased overall availability of sugar makes diabetes more common. A 2013 study that looked at 175 different countries found that more sugar in the food supply increased diabetes rates.
Specifically, for every additional 150 calories of sugar available per day per person, diabetes levels rose 1 percent. This change continued even when researchers controlled other factors linked to diabetes, such as obesity, exercise, and overall calorie consumption. This research suggests that sugar consumption does affect diabetes, at least on a population level.
The study did not look at individuals, so does not support the claim that individual sugar consumption causes diabetes. Despite this, it gives people who eat a lot of sugar something to consider, especially if they have other diabetes risk factors.
A 2012 review of previous research suggests that some forms of sugar consumption could increase the risk of diabetes. Drawing upon previous research, the study suggested that sugary drinks were likely to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Research on the link between other forms of sugar intake and diabetes, as well as sugar and other health risk factors, did not reach any firm findings.
Other sugar-related health risks
Though the link between sugar and type 2 diabetes is uncertain, the link between sugar and other health conditions is not. Research published in 2014 linked excessive sugar consumption to an increased risk of dying of cardiovascular disease. People who got more than 25 percent of their daily calories from sugar were more than twice as likely to die from heart disease as participants who got 10 percent or less of their calories from sugar.
Other risks associated with eating too much sugar include:
tooth decay
liver disease, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
cancer
hormone changes
high cholesterol
weight gain and obesity
chronic illnesses, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction
Type 2 diabetes risk factors
Researchers are still working to understand type 1 diabetes. Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include:
being overweight, or having a high waist circumference
being 45 years old or older
having a family history of diabetes
experiencing gestational diabetes during pregnancy
having high blood glucose levels, or being insulin resistant
having high blood pressure
not getting much exercise
having high levels of fats called triglycerides in the blood, or low HDL cholesterol
blood vessel or circulatory issues in the brain, legs, or heart
___________________________________________________________________________
Do you have a sweet tooth? How do you limit your sugar intake? What are your recommendations for people who have a hard time sticking to the rules? (like me for example :) )
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Sugar is irresistible to most people. So irresistible, in fact, that sugar cravings might be rooted in evolution. Craving sugary foods, or so the theory goes, could help prevent starvation.
In a modern world, however, where food is often plentiful, sugar consumption is linked to diabetes, obesity, and other health problems. Research into the connection between sugar consumption and diabetes is ongoing. Most doctors argue that sugar alone does not trigger diabetes. But some emerging research suggests a closer link between sugar consumption and diabetes than was previously thought.
Can people get diabetes from eating too much sugar?
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes affect the body's ability to regulate blood glucose levels. But eating sugar will not cause type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, which causes the body to attack cells that produce insulin. Damage to these cells undermines the body's ability to manage blood glucose.
Type 2 diabetes is more complex. Sugar consumption will not directly cause diabetes. However, excess sugar consumption can cause weight gain. Obesity increases the risk of diabetes.
Once a person has diabetes, eating too much sugar can make symptoms worse, since diabetes makes it more difficult for the body to manage blood sugar levels.
Understanding the link between sugar and diabetes
Although eating sugar is not directly linked to developing diabetes, some evidence suggests that increased overall availability of sugar makes diabetes more common. A 2013 study that looked at 175 different countries found that more sugar in the food supply increased diabetes rates.
Specifically, for every additional 150 calories of sugar available per day per person, diabetes levels rose 1 percent. This change continued even when researchers controlled other factors linked to diabetes, such as obesity, exercise, and overall calorie consumption. This research suggests that sugar consumption does affect diabetes, at least on a population level.
The study did not look at individuals, so does not support the claim that individual sugar consumption causes diabetes. Despite this, it gives people who eat a lot of sugar something to consider, especially if they have other diabetes risk factors.
A 2012 review of previous research suggests that some forms of sugar consumption could increase the risk of diabetes. Drawing upon previous research, the study suggested that sugary drinks were likely to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Research on the link between other forms of sugar intake and diabetes, as well as sugar and other health risk factors, did not reach any firm findings.
Other sugar-related health risks
Though the link between sugar and type 2 diabetes is uncertain, the link between sugar and other health conditions is not. Research published in 2014 linked excessive sugar consumption to an increased risk of dying of cardiovascular disease. People who got more than 25 percent of their daily calories from sugar were more than twice as likely to die from heart disease as participants who got 10 percent or less of their calories from sugar.
Other risks associated with eating too much sugar include:
tooth decay
liver disease, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
cancer
hormone changes
high cholesterol
weight gain and obesity
chronic illnesses, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction
Type 2 diabetes risk factors
Researchers are still working to understand type 1 diabetes. Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include:
being overweight, or having a high waist circumference
being 45 years old or older
having a family history of diabetes
experiencing gestational diabetes during pregnancy
having high blood glucose levels, or being insulin resistant
having high blood pressure
not getting much exercise
having high levels of fats called triglycerides in the blood, or low HDL cholesterol
blood vessel or circulatory issues in the brain, legs, or heart
___________________________________________________________________________
Do you have a sweet tooth? How do you limit your sugar intake? What are your recommendations for people who have a hard time sticking to the rules? (like me for example )
MedicalNewsToday.com
is there also a direct link between persons that have undergone stoma surgery and contracting Pre type 2 or Type 2
