Excess sugar leads to diabetes, so this strikes me as being fairly obvious.
Problem is, sugar is packed into pretty much all processed foods.
Excess dietary sugars can lead to diabetes, yet for some people, it is not a problem. Even with obesity. On the other hand a hidden culprit is lipids, fats. When the body stores fats, they are converted to blood sugars as a necessary energy source. Excess dietary sugars are often converted to fats for storage. More problematic may be the common cold and similar viruses, which are being identified as attacking the pancreas, reducing the quality of insulin produced, the chemical which helps us metabolize blood sugars. The older we get, the more often we have suffered colds and similar viral attacks, the less efficient the pancreas, the less efficient our insulin.
Choosing dietary sugars which are usually metabolized more easily can make a difference. There are significant molecular structures between different sugars. Cane sugar, honey, maple in unadulterated syrup form, have 1-3 less molecules than corn syrup, molasses, beet sugar, among others, and taste sweeter, also translating into lower usage as well as more efficient metabolization. Sugars in fruit accompanied by high fiber, like apples, pears, even peaches are cleansed from the digestive tract prior to metabolization, lowering their effect on blood sugar levels. Tart berries, like blue, black, also are high fiber, high enough so that blood sugar levels are barely effected. Yet when served as juice, without the fiber content, blood sugar levels will rise exponentially.
Keeping lipid intake moderate will also keep blood sugar levels lower. However, lower levels of both lipids and blood sugars can also be dangerous for our systems. Both have their purposes, whether for absorbing fat soluble nutrients and vitamins, or providing necessary energy. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Medical scientists are also currently arguing about blood sodium levels. For decades cardiologists have been advising patients to keep their sodium levels down, and the same for doctors with patients suffering from arthritis, gout and other inflammatory issues. Now evidence is showing a higher ratio of cardiac events, fatal events, for those with lower sodium levels. Moderation may be the key, yet what ranges are moderate is a question yet to be answered.
The more we learn about ourselves, the less we know.
Please pass me the double dutch chocolate ice cream. Ice cream is made with salt as well as sugar.
