Study: Higher sugar consumption is connected to diabetes

It is not news that a lack of physical activity and a poor diet can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle. However, recent research showed that even when obesity is not a factor, there is still a strong connection between individuals eating food with high sugar levels and developing diabetes.

The study’s results were published in the February 27 issue of the Public Library of Science (PLoS One) and explained that the prevalence of diabetes in the world has more than doubled over the last 30 years. Specifically, nearly one in 10 adults in the world has diabetes, and most of those have type 2 diabetes, which is connected with food intake.

“The old mantra that ‘a calorie is a calorie’ is probably naive,” Dr. Sanjay Basu, an assistant professor of medicine at Stanford University and lead author of the study told HealthDay News. “Some calories may be more metabolically harmful than others, and sugar calories appear to have remarkably potent properties that make us concerned about their long-term metabolic effects.

Basu added that the study also suggests that obesity might not be the lone reason why an individual might contract diabetes.

Researchers found that for every additional 150 calories of sugar available per person daily, which is about one can of sweetened soda, the prevalence of diabetes rose 1 percent in the population. This increase was also separate from obesity, physical activity and other factors that might contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes.

It is important for consumers to know the nutritional facts of their food and drink purchases. In order to meet those needs, companies should design custom labels with a Primera LX900 color label printer. That way, all packaged items have neatly printed descriptions that are accurate and adhere to federal standards.