Does eating sugar cause diabetes?
Eating sugar in and of itself does not cause diabetes. But eating a lot of sugar can lead to obesity (which is a risk factor for diabetes) and tooth decay. Once a person has been diagnosed with diabetes, too much sugar consumed at one time can lead to elevated blood glucose levels which over time can lead to diabetes complications. The Diabetes Society has information available on carbohydrate (including sugar) content in popular foods.
For years the medical community insisted that eating sugar and refined carbohydrates does not cause diabetes. However, a Harvard study clearly shows that cola drinks, jams, refined breadstuffs, white rice and potatoes were among the foods associated with diabetes incidence. (Based on 65,000 disease-free U.S. women in the Nurses Health Study) The conclusion of the study was that diets with a high glycemic load and a low cereal fiber content increase risk of diabetes in women. To counter this, they suggest eating whole grains and low glycemic foods.
