Can eating sweets cause diabetes?

 Can eating sweets cause diabetes?

By Dr. Pankaj Agarwal, Consultant Endocrinologist, Hormone Care and Research Center, Ghaziabad

  • The common misconception is that eating sugar causes diabetes. This is not entirely true.
  • Type 1 Diabetes occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the insulin producing cells in the pancreas and destroys them. It occurs mostly at a very young age.
  • Type 2 Diabetes is more common and usually occurs in adulthood.
  • In Type 2 Diabetes, the body isn’t able to use insulin in the right way. This is called insulin resistance. As type 2 diabetes gets worse, the pancreas may make less and less insulin leading to insulin deficiency.
  • Eating sugar has nothing to do with developing Type 1 Diabetes.
  • Intake of sugary drinks should be limited to help prevent Type 2 diabetes.
  • One of the biggest risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes is being overweight, and a diet high in calories from any source contributes to weight gain.
  • It is the high calorie content and not the sugar that leads to insulin resistance and diabetes.
  • When taking sweets remember that all sweets are not alike. Some have sugar alone and hence contain lesser calories and are safe to eat.
  • Sweets containing high khoya content, ghee or oil are high in calories and hence more fattening. These sweets are more likely to result into insulin resistance in long term leading to diabetes.
  • Sweets are bad because of calories contained in them.
  • Serving sizes make a difference. When you include sweets in your meal, have one chapatti instead of two or have a smaller serving of rice.

Click here to book an appointment with Dr. Agarwal

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16 thoughts on “Can eating sweets cause diabetes?

      1. Dr. Khoobsurat Najma

        Mr Vaneet, taking a small sweet once in a while is OK as long as you adjust your overall calorie intake.

  1. mohammed abdul Raoof

    Thank you much for the awareness post….Can you please through light on how to reduce / control weight of the body..

    1. Dr. Khoobsurat Najma

      Mr Mohan, Thanks a lot for your feedback. we shall post info on the topic mentioned by you very soon.

  2. OM PRAKASH NARULA

    How we can reduce our body weight,when ever I tried to reduce my weight I have started wrinkles on my neck and face& that seems very bad so it is not possible to continue by reducing the diet

  3. Pingback: Feeling Too Cold? Try these Indian Superfoods | 1mg Capsules

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