Can eating too much sugar cause diabetes?

A little chocolate after lunch, a piece of cake in the middle of the afternoon and a chocolate brownie for dessert are very tempting, aren’t they? In fact, for many people, sugar is practically irresistible.

This is not new: this uncontrollable desire to eat sugar has accompanied us throughout evolution, as a way of preventing us from dying of starvation. The problem is that, very different from ancient times, today we have a lot of food at our disposal.

As a result, excessive sugar consumption ended up being linked to the emergence of heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

And worse: some studies suggest that high sugar intake would have even more influence on the development of diabetes than previously thought, and could be one of the causes of this disease.

Is it possible to develop diabetes from eating too much sugar?

If you want a quick answer to this question, then know that sugar intake does not directly cause diabetes. However, there is a way in which excessive consumption of this substance can contribute to the emergence of this disease.

While type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, in which the patient’s body attacks its own insulin-producing cells, type 2 diabetes develops when certain factors such as genetic inheritance, physical inactivity and obesity accumulate.

And as you well know, one of the causes of obesity is an inadequate diet – for example, with an excessive intake of sugar.

Understanding the connection between sugar and diabetes

Although sugar consumption is not directly related to the development of diabetes, some evidence suggests that increased availability of this substance makes the disease more common.

According to a study carried out in 2013 in the USA, involving 175 countries, the greater the amount of sugar in the diet, the greater the occurrence of diabetes among the population. More specifically, for every 150 calories from sugar eaten per day per person, diabetes levels rise by 1%.

The research did not consider the effect of sugar individually, but rather on the population itself – that is, the study indicates that there is a relationship between sugar consumption and the occurrence of diabetes in society as a whole.

Although the relationship between sugar and diabetes is not yet well established by science, some other diseases definitely have excessive intake of this substance among their causes. Some examples are heart disease, liver disease, some cancers, hormonal changes, high cholesterol, polycystic ovary syndrome, and chronic inflammation.

Other risk factors for type 2 diabetes

In addition to obesity, which can be caused by excessive consumption of sugar, there are other risk factors for a patient to develop type 2 diabetes:

• Be over 45 years old;
• Present a family history of the disease;
• Suffering from gestational diabetes;
• Having high blood sugar or insulin resistance;
• be hypertensive;
• Not exercising;
• Have an imbalance in cholesterol levels.

This means that, unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes is caused by certain factors that our lifestyle has a great influence on — hence the importance of maintaining a routine of physical activities, eating a healthy diet and regularly undergoing exercise. laboratory tests.

Recommendations for safe sugar consumption

In excess, sugar is a dangerous substance that can cause several diseases, however, our body still needs an amount of glucose to function – and it would be impossible to eliminate all glucose from our diet.

With that in mind, the American Heart Association recommends that men consume no more than 9 teaspoons (36 grams) of sugar per day, corresponding to 150 calories. For women, the recommendation is up to 6 teaspoons (25 grams) a day, or 100 calories from sugar.

In summary, what we should do is avoid the consumption of foods with added sugar, such as soft drinks, industrialized juices, cookies and sweets in general, in addition to reducing the intake of carbohydrates with a high glycemic index, such as those derived from white flour.

Give preference to foods such as wholegrain bread, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean meats, which provide the nutrients necessary for the proper functioning of our body and prolong the feeling of satiety. A sweetie is allowed once in a while, but it can’t become the rule.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. They do not replace the advice and follow-up of doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, physical education professionals and other specialists.