It is no secret that living with diabetes means you may have to change your eating habits and possibly cut back on certain foods to manage the condition. But there are a number of ‘diabetes diet’ myths out there that simply aren’t true. Let’s lay one to rest today.
#1: Eating Too Much Sugar Causes Diabetes – The amount of sugar you consume is unlikely to cause diabetes on its own. Diabetes occurs when your body’s ability to turn food into energy is disrupted. The body is supposed to break down the food you eat into glucose, which is a type of sugar needed to power the cells of the body. The pancreas makes a hormone called insulin, which helps cells utilize glucose for fuel. In Type 1 Diabetes, the pancreas does not make insulin. This usually occurs in children or young people, and is thought to occur as a result of something happening with the immune system. In Type 2 Diabetes, the pancreas either does not make enough insulin or the insulin does not work properly. In some instances it is both. Type 2 Diabetes can occur in people of any age, although being overweight increases risk. Gestational diabetes can occur during pregnancy for some women when hormone changes prevent insulin from working properly. While the condition may resolve after the birth of the child, those with gestational diabetes usually need to take insulin.
Essentially, it is important to note that it is not the amount of sugar that’s to blame – it is the body’s ability to metabolize that sugar properly and turn it into energy that is the problem. So while eating sugar won’t cause diabetes, when you are at risk for diabetes or when you have diabetes, it is important to limit your sugar intake somewhat.
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