+3 votes
in General Factchecking by Apprentice (1.9k points)

12 Answers

+5 votes
by Novice (700 points)
selected by
 
Best answer

Experts say that while eating too much sugar can hinder your health, especially when you do have diabetes, sugar is not a cause of diabetes. 

In the article, Sugar and Diabetes, by Diabetes UK (https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/eating-with-diabetes/food-groups/sugar-and-diabetes) they state that sugar does not cause diabetes, but the answer is more complicated when we talk about type one and two of diabetes. 

"We know that sugar does not cause type 1 diabetes, nor is it caused by anything else in your lifestyle. In type 1 diabetes, the insulin producing cells in your pancreas are destroyed by your immune system. 

With type 2 diabetes, the answer is a little more complex. Though we know sugar doesn’t directly cause type 2 diabetes, you are more likely to get it if you are overweight. You gain weight when you take in more calories than your body needs, and sugary foods and drinks contain a lot of calories.

So you can see if too much sugar is making you put on weight, then you are increasing your risk of getting type 2 diabetes. But type 2 diabetes is complex, and sugar is unlikely to be the only reason the condition develops."

So yes, you do not directly get diabetes from sugar intake, and a great reminder to know is that we all have sugar in our bodies that are helpful and needed. We need to watch our sugar intake but know it is not a direct causation of diabetes. 

True
by Genius (43.6k points)
You did a good job of explaining the two types of diabetes and sugar's role, if any. I like that you explained that type two diabetes is lifestyle related, so consuming sugary foods can indirectly impact that condition. Nice work and fact-check.
by Apprentice (1.1k points)
Excerpt job!!!

The statement is indeed true because:

Diabetes is caused by the body's inability to produce or properly use insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. Eating too much sugar can lead to weight gain, which can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but it is not a direct cause of the disease.
In fact, consuming small amounts of sugar as part of a balanced diet is unlikely to cause any harm to people with diabetes. However, excessive consumption of sugar can lead to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels), which can be dangerous for people with diabetes. Therefore, it is important for people with diabetes to monitor their sugar intake and maintain a balanced diet to manage their blood sugar levels.

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/publications/health-matters/myth-buster-dishing-the-details-on-diabetes
+2 votes
by Novice (740 points)

This is true. You don't get type one diabetes from eating sugar and you can't directly get type two diabetes from eating sugar. You are more likely to get type two diabetes if you are overweight and intaking too many calories. According to Diabetes UK  "type 2 diabetes is complex, and sugar is unlikely to be the only reason the condition develops."

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/eating-with-diabetes/food-groups/sugar-and-diabetes#:~:text=Though%20we%20know%20sugar%20doesn,contain%20a%20lot%20of%20calories.

True
by Genius (43.6k points)
Great job finding a reputable source. Going forward, try to dig deeper and find one that hasn't already been used in a fact-check already (I see that this same link was used in the fact-check right before yours).
+2 votes
by Novice (800 points)

While lifestyle is an important factor in health. Eating sugar does not directly make you get diabetes. Instead, the factor of being overweight and lifestyle choices like that increases your chances of type 2 diabetes. According to NIH "As in type 1 diabetes, certain genes may make you more likely to develop type 2 diabetes."

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/symptoms-causes 

by Master (5.4k points)
What rank do you give it?
+2 votes
by Apprentice (1.1k points)
This is a true statement. The most common form of diabetes, type 2, is a combination of insulin resistance and pancreatic failure, according to Dr. Ayushi Dixit, M.D. of the Hackensack Meridian Health.

https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/HealthU/2021/12/14/Can-You-Get-Diabetes-from-Eating-Too-Much-Sugar#.ZBuSLuzMJ24
by Genius (43.6k points)
What about the other type of diabetes? Does sugar play a direct role?
+2 votes
by Apprentice (1.4k points)

The claim that you don't get diabetes from eating too much sugar is true although many tend to think it. In diabetes, glucose is elevated which is why people correlate the two; however, the most common forms of diabetes are actually associated with insulin resistance and pancreatic failure. On the other hand, poor lifestyle choices in terms of weight and exercise increase your chance for diabetes, not just the simple idea of eating too much sugar. 

https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/HealthU/2021/12/14/Can-You-Get-Diabetes-from-Eating-Too-Much-Sugar#.ZBufFC-B1QI

True
+2 votes
by Novice (740 points)

This statement is mostly true as sugar does not directly cause diabetes. According to Diabetes UK, people are more likely to get diabetes type 2 if they are overweight. "You gain weight when you take in more calories than your body needs, and sugary foods and drinks contain a lot of calories."

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/eating-with-diabetes/food-groups/sugar-and-diabetes

True
by Master (5.4k points)
since it is mostly true but not completely true, how about ranking it Exaggerated?
+3 votes
by Novice (940 points)
For starters, we must differentiate between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is not caused by sugar consumption, and frankly, it is not caused by anything that a person does. Type 1 diabetes is a condition some people are born with due to the inefficiency of insulin-producing sells in the body.

Type 2 diabetes is not caused by sugar consumption either, but you do have a higher risk of getting diabetes if you have a poor diet that makes you overweight.

In sum, sugar intake should be monitored, but it will not directly cause diabetes.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/eating-with-diabetes/food-groups/sugar-and-diabetes#:~:text=Though%20we%20know%20sugar%20doesn,contain%20a%20lot%20of%20calories
by Genius (43.6k points)
Would you rank the claim as true, false, misleading, opinion? Don't forget to choose a rating when you're publishing a fact-check. Overall, your explanation was clear and very thorough -- good work!
+1 vote
by Apprentice (1.2k points)

You get diabetes from sugar builds up in the bloodstream. This is because the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes may be caused by a combination of genetic or environmental factors.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20371444

True
by Genius (43.6k points)
Going forward, it would strengthen your fact-check if you attribute your information to its source (re: According to Mayo Clinic, XXXXXX....).
+2 votes
by Novice (570 points)
eating sugar is not the direct cause of diabetes. However if your overweight it could play huge role in leading you to have it.you should be careful about the calories you are intaking.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/eating-with-diabetes/food-groups/sugar-and-diabetes
Exaggerated/ Misleading
+1 vote
by Novice (980 points)

There is not a direct link to sugar consumption leading to diabetes, however, a high sugar consumption can lead to other health risks such as obesity and cardiovascular disease ("Can you get diabetes from eating too much sugar?"). These health conditions increase the risk of type II diabetes. There are two different types of diabetes, type I and type II. Type I is an autoimmune disease where "the immune system attacks the cells that produce insulin" which harms the body's management of blood glucose ("Can you get diabetes from eating too much sugar?"). In type II diabetes, "the insulin the body produces is unable to manage the glucose that enters the blood after eating or drinking" ("Can you get diabetes from eating too much sugar?"). Eating too much sugar is not good for people who are diabetic because it could spike their insulin levels. Type I diabetes doesn't have clear risk factors, mainly family history ("Diabetes Risk Factors"). Type II risk factors include having prediabetes, being overweight, being older, lack of physical activity, having gestational diabetes, or come from select backgrounds ("Diabetes Risk Factors"). However, you can make an effort to delay or prevent diabetes by making healthier changes to your physical activity and diet. 

Diabetes and sugar intake: What is the link? (medicalnewstoday.com)

https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/risk-factors.html

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