New Delhi: Diabetes is one of the most commonly affecting health conditions, especially in India. Millions of people suffer from the condition. Diabetes is a chronic condition when the pancreas is unable to produce insulin, the enzyme responsible for the breakdown of sugar in the blood, or is unable to process sugar in the blood altogether. Diabetes can affect anyone, from children to old people, but is more common in older adults.
There is a lot of confusion when it comes to the causes of diabetes, and what exactly causes the pancreas to stop producing insulin. While your diet and lifestyle choices play a very important role in determining your risk of the disease and the functioning of the pancreas, as they affect any other function in the body, certain specific causes like auto-immunity may be involved.
Some people are very careful while consuming sugar because they believe excess consumption of sugar can cause diabetes. Other people only stop eating or consuming sugar when they are diagnosed with diabetes to control their blood sugar levels. Which of the two groups is right? Let's find out.
Diabetes is caused by a variety of factors and the causes may vary from person to person. Genetic makeup, environmental conditions, family history, ethnicity, health issues, lifestyle choices, etc. all determine the onset of diabetes. Diabetes is called an auto-immune disease as in type 1 diabetes, the immune system starts destroying the cells of the pancreas that make insulin.
Coming back to the question if consuming too much sugar can cause diabetes or not, the answer is in the favour of the group that is eating desserts to their heart's content, as consuming sugar is not a fundamental cause of diabetes.
However, consumption of sugar can have an impact on the risk of developing diabetes. While type 1 diabetes is not affected by the over-consumption or under-consumption of sugar, type 2 diabetes and the effects of sugar are slightly more complicated.
Though sugar does not directly cause type 2 diabetes, it does add on weight to the body, and one is more likely to get type 2 diabetes if they are obese or over-weight. Therefore, while the sugary foods and drinks are not causing diabetes directly, they can indirectly affect your risk of getting the disease. It is not just sugary foods that can make you gain weight. Other lifestyle choices like lack of exercise or physical activity, smoking, etc. can also affect weight and risk of diabetes.
Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.