DIABETIS IS A BURNING HEALTH PROBLEM IN INDIA AND THE WORLD OVER. SO MANY POSTS HAVE BEEN POSTED ON THE SUBJECT. HERE IS ANOTHER ONE. SUCH TOPICS SHOULD BE VISITED AND REVISITED SO THAT THE TOPIC REMAINS ACTIVE IN OUR THINKING.

Can Eating Sweets Cause Diabetes?
(By Shalini Attre+)

Have you tested your blood sugar levels recently?

Here’s how diabetes begins…

When you eat food that has high gylcemic index, your body releases insulin hormone to process that sugar and get it out of your bloodstream. When you eat carb rich foods frequently, more and more insulin is pumped into your body. This repeated flush of insulin makes your body cells less responsive or immune to it. This condition is called insulin resistance and it leads to the onset of diabetes.

Types of diabetes:

Diabetes is basically of three types: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes strikes majorly due to genetic factors and viral infection followed by autoimmune destruction of beta cells. Type 2 diabetes occurs due to many factors like family history, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits etc. Insulin resistance happens due to excessive amounts of insulin in the body. Gestational diabetes happens during pregnancy and disappears after delivery.

Here are some common myths and facts about diabetes:

Myth 1: Eating sweets cause diabetes

Fact: Having a sweet tooth or consumption of sugar does not cause diabetes. But, it increases your chance of getting diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is not caused by eating sugary foods. Genetic factors and other reasons trigger it. Type 2 diabetes is majorly triggered by obesity. If you eat foods high in calories and do not exercise to burn off the excessive calories they get deposited in your body as fat. This may trigger type 2 diabetes.

Research shows that taking drinks spiked with sugar like carbonated soft drinks, energy drinks etc. may lead to type 2 diabetes.

So, basically your sedentary lifestyle is responsible for triggering this disease.

Myth 2: If you are diabetic, you can not have sugary or starchy stuff!

Fact: If you are diabetic, it does not imply that you can never eat sweets or carbs. You may eat small portions of sugary or starchy foods once in a while, if your sugar levels are under control. Consult your doctor for a diet chart.

Myth 3: People with diabetes are more prone to other ailments.

Fact: Diabetes does not increase your chances of other illnesses. However, if you have other ailments, diabetes makes it difficult to manage them by enhancing the complications.

Myth 4: Diabetics should consume more fruit.

Fact: Fruits are full of healthy nutrients and fibre content. They also contain carbohydrates. So, the amount and type of fruit that diabetics can eat should be advised by the doctor.

Myth 5: People with diabetes should only eat special diabetic food.

Fact: A healthy diet plan is sufficient to keep blood sugar level in control. It is not necessary to consume only diabetic food. Most of the diabetic foods have no special benefit and even raise the blood sugar levels in some cases.

Stay healthy and aware to maintain your wellness! more