It’s in the name-blood sugar.  Many believe that sugar will cause diabetes.  Sugar does not cause diabetes.

Promise.

So what does might cause diabetes?

Genetics!  Thank you parents or grandparents.

Ethnicity.  Pan-Pacific, Hispanic, Asian Americans, and African-Americans are at a higher risk for diabetes.

Age.  Being over the 45 increases your risk.

Gestational diabetes.  On average, 2 out of 3 women had had gestational diabetes will eventually have type 2 diabetes.

Weight.  Your waist circumference will give you a better risk assessment than your overall weight.  Men, your waistline needs to be 40″ or less; women, your waistline needs to be 35″ or less.

Not sugar though!  Ok, well kind of.  Soda won’t cause diabetes but it won’t prevent diabetes.  Excess sugar intake may lead to weight gain though.  Weight gain increases risk of diabetes.  There’s the connection.  You could also eat too many avocados (low carb, high fat food) and gain weight.

Note: most foods that people believe to be high in sugar are higher in fat which adds up quicker in calories.  Examples include cupcakes, cookies, candy bars, and ice cream.

A person without diabetes or prediabetes is able to handle a large sugar load.  Their pancreas is able to send out enough insulin to return blood sugar to stable levels.

What’s the harm in testing your pancreas?  Again, the weight gain.  Insulin resistance usually occurs due to too many fat cells.  You can sometimes see if they have insulin resistance!  It may look like a child needs to wash the back of their neck but really, it’s clean!  Acanthosis can show up on skin folds such as the neck, elbows, knees, finger joints, toe joints, etc.  This is when parents are prompted to bring up the issue to their physician or health clinicians note the skin darkening and raise a question to it.

My conclusion: Sugar won’t cause diabetes.  I don’t recommended drinking juice or regular soda though because it causes weight gain and can make it difficult to lose weight.  Limit caloric intake and be physically active to decrease your risk of diabetes.