1. Sugar and Diabetes: A Direct Cause?
‘Eating a lot of sugar causes diabetes’ is one of the most widespread myths. While it is an undeniable fact that sugar intake is closely related to diabetes, sugar itself does not directly attack the pancreas to cause the disease. The relationship is a bit more complex.
2. The Real Causes: ‘Overweight’ and ‘Insulin Resistance’
The most central cause of Type 2 diabetes is ‘insulin resistance.’ And the most powerful risk factor that triggers this insulin resistance is ‘overweight and obesity.’
– The Role of Sugar: Foods and drinks high in simple sugars, like table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, are high in calories and have little nutritional value. Frequent consumption of such items can easily lead to becoming overweight or obese.
– Obesity and Insulin Resistance: When body fat, especially visceral fat, accumulates, the fat cells secrete inflammatory substances that interfere with our body’s insulin function. This is insulin resistance.
– Progression to Diabetes: As insulin resistance increases, the pancreas works harder to produce more insulin to control blood sugar, eventually becoming exhausted. This leads to the onset of Type 2 diabetes.
3. Conclusion
The habit of eating a lot of sugar is not so much a ‘direct’ cause of Type 2 diabetes, but rather acts as a ‘powerful risk factor’ or an ‘indirect’ cause by leading to obesity. Of course, for someone who already has diabetes, sugar intake is very harmful as it directly and rapidly spikes blood sugar.
Summary: Sugar consumption itself does not directly cause diabetes. However, excessive sugar intake leads to obesity, and this obesity is a key cause of Type 2 diabetes by increasing insulin resistance.
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