Sugar and Diabetes – It’s currently estimated that 37 million Americans are living with diabetes, not to mention 96 million adults estimated to be prediabetic. Education on the topic is essential. We’re taking a look today at how diabetes occurs and whether it’s linked to excessive sugar consumption. View our recipes here.
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Sugar and Diabetes - How does diabetes occur?
Diabetes occurs when your blood glucose, often referred to as blood sugar, is too high. It is linked to some types of cancer, but diabetes can damage the kidneys, heart, nerves and eyes. It’s a lifelong condition, so paying attention to nutrition is necessary.
The amount of sugar in our blood is controlled by a hormone produced by the pancreas. There are few feisty hormones we have to deal with in life. This particular one is called insulin.
Insulin has an important part to play in energy production. When food is digested and enters the bloodstream, insulin kicks in to move that glucose out of the blood into the cells, which can be used as energy.
However, when a diabetes diagnosis is present, the body cannot break down that glucose and use it as energy.
How many types of diabetes are there?
To complicate matters further, there are 2 types of diabetes.
Type 1 is when the body’s immune system goes into attack mode and destroys the cells that produce insulin.
Type 2, generally recognised as far more prevalent globally, is when the body doesn’t physically produce enough insulin or the body’s cells do not react appropriately to the insulin produced.
How does prediabetes differ from diabetes?
We mentioned above that there are an estimated 96 million adults. This underlying health concern often goes undetected and undiagnosed. That’s because you can have prediabetes but test within the normal range for your blood sugar levels.
Even if your blood sugar is within normal range, failure to put preventative measures in place could risk developing into full-blown diabetes at some point in the future. As the old saying goes, “prevention is better than cure”. The good news is that small changes can lead to healthy habits.
Does living with diabetes mean restricting your diet?
Living with diabetes doesn’t have to mean forfeiting all the things you love! Like delicious desserts!
While type 1 will require insulin injections for the rest of your life, type 2 is a progressive condition, and in both instances, eating healthily and taking regular exercise are recommended. Also, carrying out regular blood tests to ensure those blood glucose levels remain healthily balanced.
Does sugar cause insulin spikes?
It will come as no surprise that sugar is a culprit when it comes to causing insulin spikes. This is especially true of the sugar that enters your bloodstream and is broken down from the carbohydrates you’ve eaten (aka carbs).
Numerous studies show eating a low-carb, or ketogenic diet can positively help combat a rise in sugar spikes. We’re proud to announce that Simply Delish products are now Ketogenic Certified after undergoing rigorous lab and actual consumer testing which gives Simply Delish and their community the confidence to indulger in low carb / keto desserts without the fear of blood sugar spiking or ketone levels dropping.
Can a ketogenic diet also help with weight loss?
As the #1 keto research lab in the world today, Ketogenic Certified products, like the entire Simply Delish range of puddings, jels and protein powders, ensure you won’t get kicked out of ketosis or enter a diabetes danger zone due to a sudden spike in glucose.
Not only that, but by consuming a ketogenic diet low in carbs, many people find they experience weight loss as an added benefit.
It’s what you could call a win-win situation, as weight loss in itself can also help reduce blood sugar spikes.
Refined carbs, in particular, have a high glycemic index. Readily absorbed and quickly digested, they promote rapid blood sugar spikes. In fact, according to a study of over 91,000 women, a high-carb diet was conclusively linked to an increase in type 2 diabetes.
Can diabetics still eat desserts?
Consuming sugar is associated with developing insulin resistance, a condition where the body loses its ability to effectively control blood sugar.
That’s why we do things differently here at Simply Delish. Our desserts are different in the very best possible way. We’re sugar-free, not taste-free which means we’re perfect for keto fans and diabetic-friendly too.
So if you are diabetic, don’t despair and feel like a sweet treat is off the table.
With Simply Delish game-changing and guilt-free desserts and puddings, you can satisfy that sweet tooth without causing an insulin spike during National Diabetes Month and every other month besides! Head to our dessert shop and Browse Today! for a tasty treat that’s simply hard to beat.
