What Is Diabetes, Anyway?
Diabetes is a condition where your body has trouble processing glucose (a form of sugar) in the bloodstream. This happens when your body either doesn’t produce enough insulin (the hormone that helps cells absorb glucose) or when your cells become resistant to insulin.
There are two main types of diabetes:
- Type 1 diabetes, which is usually diagnosed in childhood, occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
- Type 2 diabetes is more common in adults and is often linked to lifestyle choices like diet and physical activity.
It’s this second type, type 2, that’s frequently associated with sugar consumption. But is sugar really the enemy here?
Does Eating Sweets Really Cause Diabetes?
Let’s clear up one of the biggest health myths: Sugar alone doesn’t cause diabetes. Yes, eating excessive sugar can lead to weight gain, and excess weight is a major risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. But it’s not the sugar by itself that’s the problem — it’s more about the overall poor diet and lack of activity that are driving the epidemic.
