How Does Sugar Affect Diabetes?

By  ,  Onlymyhealth editorial team
Jan 18, 2012

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How does sugar affect diabetes

Diabetes is a condition in which sugar is not utilized properly by the body. It can either be a case of body not producing enough insulin or not utilising it for processing sugar. There are some distinctions between the types of diabetes, such as the inability of the body to produce insulin is called type 1 diabetes, while the diabetes that occurs due to the body’s resistance to insulin or its deficiency is known as type 2. In prediabetes people show a blood glucose level higher than normal but do not fall in the category of type 2 diabetes.

Effect of sugar on diabetes

In a healthy person, the blood sugar level at around 60 to 80 mg/dl, up to 90 in some cases, before meals is considered normal. The sugar level of diabetics is higher than normal. The level at fasting is 100 mg/dl and two hours after meals; it is 140 mg/dl. High blood sugar is very damaging for the health as it can cause disorder of the kidney, heart attacks, eye disorder to the extent of blindness, impotency, damage to the nerves, suppression of immune system, and poor blood circulation in the legs and feet.

Having sugar for long periods of time can cause chronic hyperglycaemia. If left untreated, the symptoms can aggravate and lead to ketoacidosis in which the body breaks down the fat in the body because it is unable to use the sugar in the body for producing energy. The decomposing of fat leaves a lot of toxins in the called ketons. It can turn out to be fatal for the patient.

Traditionally, restriction on intake of sugar has been the first step to take for managing your diabetic condition. Although, now-a-days these foods are not completely eliminated from the menu for diabetics, their carbohydrate content is kept in mind. According to American Diabetes Association, the amount of carbohydrates that should comprise diabetic diets in a day is 130 grams, and it should be between 45 and 65 percent of total food intake.

Diabetics need to follow the advice of dietician to know the kind of food combinations that they can try. Other than that, they also have the option of always including high fibre food along with a sweet treat. This will ensure that the process of gastric emptying in their body is slow, which helps to manage blood sugar.


Read more articles on Understand Diabetes


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