September 2018 - Issue # 058 - Can Eating Too Much Sugar Cause Diabetes?

Hi Every Body and Welcome Back

This question is asked a lot, and I also wondered the very same thing for years. Can eating too much sugar cause diabetes?

They say sugar doesn’t cause diabetes, BUT, eating too much sugar can influence whether we develop type 2 diabetes. So that to me is not exactly a clear cut no.

Sugar creates weight gain and when we are overweight, that is when we have a greater risk of developing diabetes.

What is Diabetes?

It’s a disease that occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it produces or a combination of both.

Insulin is a hormone needed to regulate the glucose (sugar) levels in our blood stream. Without the right amount of insulin it’s impossible to keep our blood sugar levels in a healthy range.

Diabetes is a serious condition which has to deal with these higher than normal sugar levels in our blood stream.

This disease can create a long list of health concerns such as damage to the heart, kidneys, eyes, nervous system.

It can lead to nerve damage, heart disease, and stroke and hinders the body’s ability to heal along with other problems that may develop.

There are three main types of diabetes which are Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational Diabetes.

There is an endless amount of information when it comes to this disease, but for the sake of this article, we try to remain focussed on ways we can avoid or prevent getting it.

For many people diabetes was forced upon them by no fault of their own, simply because their bodies do not produce enough insulin and others may have inherited this disease through family genes.

But for diabetes brought on by obesity or poor lifestyle that is definitely one we can try to fight and avoid.

Almost 90% of people that have type 2 diabetes are either obese or overweight. So if a person becomes overweight, there is an extra strain placed on the body making it more difficult to use insulin properly.

Soon as the body has trouble maintaining safe blood sugar levels, we become more likely to develop diabetes.

We can’t change are family genes but we can definitely control are diet and physical activity.

Being overweight puts us at a greater risk of developing this disease and we need to prevent this before it happens.

There are millions of people who have diabetes and don’t even know they have it.

Considering that you can get a heart attack or stroke, acquire visual problems or kidney disease, that is pretty scary.

The good news is type 2 diabetes is largely preventable.

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes that may occur:

- Excessive thirst

- Excessive Hunger

- Drink a lot of liquids

- Urinate frequently

- Tired or fatigue

- Blurry vision

- Cuts and soars may not heal properly

- Mood swings

- Unexplained weight loss

- Frequent infections, such as skin, gums, vaginal

Ways to Reduce The Risk and Prevent Diabetes:

Weight Loss. Since being overweight greatly increases are chances to develop this disease, any type of weight loss helps reduce the risk. Countless studies have shown that weight loss greatly reduces the risk of developing diabetes.

Eat right. We all know the drill. Avoid junk foods that contain lots of bad fats and sugars and instead try to incorporate more fruits, vegetables, fiber and whole grains into our diet.

Avoid sugary drinks. Sugary drinks have been linked with obesity and diabetes. Try making water or herbal teas more your style or at least try to go sugar free for your go-to drinks.

Move. Enjoy any kind of physical activity no matter how small. Exercise has been proven to decrease the risk. If nothing more, try adding a little walking to your day. Every step helps.

Sleeping well. Getting a good night’s sleep is very important. This is where a little extra physical activity may help. The more active we are through the day, the better we sleep (in most cases).

Chill. Keep stress levels low if possible. Stress actually increases our blood sugar levels. Use whatever ways you can to help minimize stress. Things such as yoga, meditation, exercising, deep breathing or having someone to talk to.

Go see a Doctor. If you feel you might have any signs of diabetes, go get checked out by a doctor. Awareness is important when trying to stay healthy.

So even the smallest feat can be beneficial, such as a quick walk around the block or substituting a sugary drink for a healthier one, every action helps.

Your Opinion Counts:

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Use our Contact Us page - or our Weight Loss News page (Your Story Counts).

Wishing you health and happiness
Until next time
Catherine :)