Doctor debunks the main myth about diabetes
Terra: Excess sugar in the diet does not directly cause diabetes
Excessive sugar consumption does not always lead to diabetes, though it can be a risk factor. This was stated by therapist Rebecca Vasconcelos (New York University) in an interview with Terra.
According to her, the misconception stems from the natural association between blood sugar levels and the disease itself. However, science has not confirmed a direct link between eating sweets and developing diabetes. Vasconcelos emphasized that even people who eat very little sugar can develop the disease.
The main cause, she said, is not sugar itself but overall lifestyle — including poor diet, physical inactivity, genetic predisposition, and metabolic issues.
“Excess sugar intake can indeed contribute to type 2 diabetes if other risk factors are present. But it is not the primary cause,” she clarified.
The doctor reminded that type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease unrelated to diet, caused by insufficient insulin production. Type 2 diabetes occurs when insulin production is normal but cells lose sensitivity to it and fail to absorb glucose effectively.
