Does Sugar Cause Diabetes?

Does sugar cause diabetes? There is not yet any real evidence one way or the other. Some scientists argue that it is only a common myth that diabetes is caused by eating a lot of sugar. Others say, "We know that sugar does cause diabetes - scientists just haven't proven it yet!"

One nutrition expert says that sugar clogs the system and interferes with the working of the living machine - the body.

The Diabetic Societies of Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines admit that they don't yet have all the answers, but they state that heredity, along with overeating - especially sugar and refined sugar products - increase your chances of having a high blood sugar. The extra sugar in the diet causes stress to the pancreas, and that could well lead to diabetes.

One thing we do know is that eating sweets and sugary foods does increase the amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood. A normal, healthy body can cope with a certain amount of sugar. But if you already have a hereditary tendency toward diabetes, if you are obese or physically inactive or have high blood pressure, or if your pancreas have been weakened by any if the possible causes, eating that extra sugar may be hazardous to your health.

More research still needs to be done before we can say for sure what does or does not cause diabetes. And only as we learn the causes will we be able to work more toward prevention.

Meanwhile, as we wait for all the answers from medical science, we can strive to have the healthiest lifestyle possible.

Taken from the Book of Marilyn Johnson entitled Sickeningly Sweet.