August 13, 2008

Myth Buster: Sugar Causes Diabetes

Myth: Eating too much sugar leads to diabetes.

Facts: Contrary to popular belief, sugar doesn’t cause diabetes. “There’s no evidence at all that people who eat a lot of sugar get diabetes at a higher rate than anyone else,” says Steven Edelman, M.D., founder and director of the nonprofit group Taking Control of Your Diabetes.

Click here for Article on AARP website

That doesn’t mean that sugar isn’t a factor. Too many calories contribute to excess weight, and excess weight can lead to type 2 diabetes (which accounts for approximately 90 percent of diabetes cases), says Ann Albright, the American Diabetes Association’s president of health care and education. While the exact cause of type 2 isn’t known, genetics and lifestyle are both contributors, Albright says.

Type 2 typically affects people over age 40 whose cells become resistant to insulin, leading to excess sugar in the blood. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body’s cells absorb sugar needed for energy. (The cause of type 1, in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, is unknown.)

What’s the best way to prevent type 2 diabetes? Monitor both the quantity and quality of your whole diet and remain physically active, Albright says.

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