Diabetes and Sugar

Despite what some may believe, sugar is not the primary cause of diabetes. It does, however, play an important role in whether or not the disease is allowed to be properly managed. For this reason, it is important to know the role that this white powder plays in a diabetic's life.

Research has shown us that diabetes has many different causes, from a sedentary lifestyle and improper caloric intake to genetics. In a normal situation, the foods that we eat are broken down for digestion. Insulin is created by the pancreas to aid these sugars, or glucose, in being consumed into the bloodstream. However, for diabetics the level of insulin created is off.

Sugar actually stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin, which, in turn, helps to maintain glucose levels. So, even diabetics need a certain amount of sugar in order to help maintain the right glucose levels. Its when an individual consumes too much sugar that they start to throw everything off balance.

A good rule of thumb is that a person should never eat so much sugar that it causes them to start gaining weight. When this starts to occur, the body is signaling you that it can't keep up the reaction of burning off the excess calories from the sugar and, therefore, begins to store it in the form of fat.

The right way to manage sugar is to ensure a healthy and active lifestyle. This includes plenty of exercise and a balanced diet. There is no need to completely cut off sugar. Focus should be the same for sugar as it is with any other food that can be considered unhealthy in excess- consume it in moderation.

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