Sugar and Diabetes

Despite resent advances in diabetes study and research, there are a lot of preconceived notions about the disease. Let's see some of the more familiar ones. Sugar is a cause of diabetes. False. Sugar can easily be held responsible for diabetes. After all, Diabetes is characterized by high blood sugar levels. Eating rice, bread and potatoes can produce the same effect so avoiding refined sugar will not protect you entirely from diabetes.

All kind of sugar is transformed to glucose by the body. The pancreas secretes the hormone insulin when blood glucose level increases to transfer glucose to body cells or store it until it is required.

Diabetics don't generate enough insulin to metabolize sugar or their bodies are unable to use insulin in the right way. Because of this inability, their blood sugar can rise to dangerous levels when they take any form of carbohydrates - not just refined sugar.

People do not become diabetic just because they are sugar freaks. True, there's too much in your blood but the main problem lies with insulin, the hormone that transforms sugar into usable energy," explained Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld of the New York Hospital in "Doctor, What Should I Eat?" Diabetics must stay away from sugar. False. Doctors once assumed that simple carbohydrates like glucose, sucrose and dextrose would increase blood sugar levels quicker than the sugars found in complex carbohydrates like bread and beans. Owing to this glycemic factor, diabetics were told to stay away from simple sugars found in chocolates and other sweets. The only omission was fructose or fruit sugar which was believed to increase blood sugar levels less than dextrose or glucose. These outdated guidelines have been changed by the ADA after studies proved that the glycemic factor didn't really matter. The ADA said what matters is the total carbohydrate content of the diet and not the type of carbohydrates consumed.

Following this rule, diabetics should watch out for starches, not sugar. The overall carbohydrate ingestion is increased if sugar is combined with other carbohydrates or starches. "According to ADA people with diabetes can eat mild amounts of sugar as long as it's part of a balanced meal that includes some protein and fat. Carbohydrates should substitute sugary foods, not simply added to the meal," wrote dietitian Janis Jibrin in American Health magazine. Table sugar should be avoided and honey and fruit sugar be preferred. False. All carbohydrates (sugars and starches) are transformed by the body into a simple sugar called glucose. So where they come from is really not the criteria. Your body won't know the difference even if you spend more buying honey then table sugar. Both these sugars, including those found in complex carbohydrates like rice or beans, can raise your blood sugar level if you don't watch your diet. (Next: How to live longer with diabetes.)

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