Sugar is behind global explosion in type 2 diabetes, study finds

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Sugar is behind global explosion in type 2 diabetes, study finds

Denis Campbell, health correspondent
The Guardian, Wednesday 27 February 2013 22.00 GMT

Sugar is behind the global explosion in type 2 diabetes, say researchers who claim it plays a uniquely damaging role in causing a disease that experts fear could overwhelm the NHS.

Obesity is usually cited as the main driver of diabetes. But a new study by US medical researchers identifies sugar as a predictor of diabetes separately from obesity.

The findings, published in the scientific journal Plos One, do not claim that sugar causes obesity. But they are significant because they pinpoint it as being closely associated with diabetes, a disease that at least 2.7 million Britons already have.

Researchers led by Sanjay Basu, an assistant professor at Stanford University school of medicine, examined the availability of sugar and diabetes rates from 175 countries worldwide over the last decade.

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Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/feb/27/sugar-obesity-type-2-diabetes

[handmade34]

1. excellent to have studies to back

what many believe... sugar, but also the prevalence of high fructose corn syrup in almost everything we ingest

[ZombieHorde]

2. Sugar would have been my first guess. nt

[Kalidurga]

3. A link to the ADA position.

http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-myths/

They say it is myth that sugar causes diabetes, then warn people to not drink too many sugary drinks.

Perhaps I could be ok with wording like sugar in moderation doesn't cause diabetes and no one should have more than X amount in their daily diet. Obesity is a factor as well and sugar is empty calories that can contribute to weight gain.

But, to say that sugar causes diabetes is a myth is outrageously misleading. Especially when right after you say it you point to sugary drinks being a part of the problem and they can in fact cause diabetes.

I called bullshit on sugar not being a factor a long time ago. But, it's nice to see that there is some push back on the sugar industry.

[BuddhaGirl]

8. interesting position

It's known that consuming sugar can lead to increased inflammation in the body, and that increased inflammation can cause disease, including type 2 diabetes.

[hollysmom]

4. sugar or corn syrup?

I thought that sugar was less reactive.

[Lex]

5. Overconsumption of high-glycemic foods of all stripes

including sugar is the main driver of diabetes 2 it seems to me. I think it's broader than just "sugar."

[LiberalArkie]

6. Where in the heck does someone find a sugary drink in the US?

Maybe the high-frutose corn syrup.

[winter is coming]

7. Have you ever ordered sweet tea in Mississippi?

I like my tea a little sweet, but that stuff is undrinkable.