by nikulpatel
When it comes to diabetes we all think that patient must have eaten too much sugar. However, relation between sugar and diabetes is always a subject of debate having different explanations. Let’s try to understand the myth of sugar and diabetes
Does sugar cause diabetes?
Diabetes can be categorized into two types: Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition which restricts your immune system of producing essential insulin and stop the entire process of converting glucose into energy. It surges the glucose level into bloodstream that increases the risk of getting type 1 diabetes. Thus, eating too much sugar in such condition can trigger body’s glucose level badly.
Type 1 diabetes can also be genetic.
Sugar plays an indirect role when it comes to Type 2 diabetes. Being an overweight which actually considered to be the main cause of type 2 diabetes.
Habit of eating foods high in calories makes you gain weight. Sugary beverages and sweeteners with added sugar contain too much calories than our body needs. Thus, our poor habit of eating high calorie food actually increase the chances of getting type 2 diabetes.
If I have been diagnosed with diabetes, can I eat sugar?
Diagnosed with Diabetes doesn’t mean that you have to cut sugar from your diet. You can still enjoy sugary foods occasionally but it should be in control and balanced diet. You can still have small servings of your favorite deserts once in a while. Small servings or substitutes of sugary foods like fruits, juices, and fruit salad help you to manage with your diabetes without cutting sugar completely from your diet.
Eating too much sugar can make it difficult to manage with diabetes especially for overweight people. Thus, now you should ask yourself that how many grams of sugar should you have a day.
Thus, American Heart Association (AHA) has provided a healthy amount of daily sugar intake for men and women.
• Men: 150 calories per day (37.5 grams or 9 teaspoons)
• Women: 100 calories per day (25 grams or 6 teaspoons)
Should I avoid sugar completely?
No, you should not. Sugar is also an essential element for our body and plays a vital role to keep your glucose level in balance. You can consume natural sugar from fruits, juices, and other natural sweeteners. What we need to avoid is foods that come with added sugar. This is something which you should not eat too much especially when you have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Small changes can make a big difference and help you to reduce your sugar intake.
Ways to reduce sugar intake
• Replace your usual chocolates, sweets and cakes with fruits
• Try natural yogurt with fruits and nuts instead of other sugary stuff
• Try to reduce the sugar in your daily drinks and meals
• Cook yourself to make sure what is in your food
• Read Nutrition facts labels before buying food products
Learn sugar’s aliases because sometimes manufacturers uses sugar aliases on labels such as high fructose corn syrup, dried cane syrup, invert sugar, molasses, sucrose, brown rice syrup, honey, and maple syrup
To minimize the rapid blood sugar fall and rise, combine protein, healthy fats and fiber with your meal
Avoid fake sugars
In brief, we can come to one conclusion that sugar can be one of the causes of diabetes as some extent. (Natural News).
