Will children get diabetes if they eat too much sugar?

The truth: This statement is incorrect. Eating too much sugar in children does not directly lead to diabetes, but it is a factor that needs to be vigilant.

Analysis: The causes of diabetes are complex and varied. Type 1 diabetes is common in children because the body's immune system mistakenly regards the islet cells in the pancreas as enemies, causing damage to these insulin-producing cells. Therefore, this type of diabetes has no direct connection with the amount of sugar consumed, but is caused by abnormalities in the immune system.

Type 2 diabetes is often closely related to family inheritance, bad lifestyle habits (such as long-term high-sugar and high-fat diet and lack of exercise), and overweight. Although eating too much sugar is not a direct cause of the disease, it will increase weight and thus indirectly increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Therefore, nutrition has always emphasized the need to control sugar intake. A moderate amount is fine, but excessive intake may cause a series of health problems, such as weight gain, tooth decay, and blood sugar fluctuations. For the health of children, parents should guide their children to develop a balanced diet, limit the intake of high-sugar foods, and encourage them to eat more foods rich in fiber and nutrients. At the same time, ensuring adequate physical exercise is also an important part of preventing diabetes.

References

[1] Ashok Balasubramanyam. Classification of diabetes mellitus and genetic diabetic syndromes. UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/zh-Hans/classification-of-diabetes-mellitus-and-genetic-diabetic-syndromes. (Accessed on Mar 22, 2024).

Author: Fan Yunzhu, Chief Physician of Jiahui Medical

Review丨Zhang Yu, researcher/PhD, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, national health science expert