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Can you get diabetes from eating too much sugar?

Published 2 May 2017

Can you get diabetes from eating too much sugar?

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

2 comments


Margarita_k • Community manager
on 02/05/2017


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  )

MedicalNewsToday.com


avatar
Unregistered member
on 03/05/2017

is there also a direct link between persons that have undergone stoma surgery and contracting Pre type 2 or Type 2

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