Sugar used to be banned for people with diabetes. Already in the seventies it has been discovered that sugar does not have to be forbidden, but there are still misunderstandings. This is because there are many factors that play a role in diabetes and sugar itself is not the only source of food that affects the blood sugar levels.

Our body needs energy (calories) to function. This energy is (among others) being provided by carbohydrates. Carbohydrates have an influence on the sugar level of our blood. There are several forms of carbohydrates: starch (in bread, potatoes, pasta etc.), normal sugar, lactose and fruit sugars. All kinds of carbohydrates are broken down to glucose (= blood sugar) in our intestinal tract. The blood transports the glucose to the cells of the muscles. Glucose is being burned there and gives us energy.

This means that all sorts of carbohydrates cause a rise in blood sugar level. The blood sugar level in someone without diabetes doesn't get too high because the pancreas creates insulin in required levels to keep it at bay. You don't have to think about that, it happens on its own. For someone with diabetes it doesn't happen automatically because there is too little insulin or the insulin doesn't work well. Being overweight usually causes the latter phenomenon. That's why it is recommended to loose weight as part of the fight against Diabetes. Of course it is smart to cut down on sugar because it often contains empty calories (calories that have no nutritional value and are immediately stores as fat in our body). But limiting your sugar intake is effective in reducing calorie intake and is not done because of the influence on the blood.

For the effect on the blood you have to pay attention to all kinds of carbohydrates. You don't have to cut down on the carbohydrates. It is sensible to spread the carbohydrates evenly during the day, so that there is little chance of causing peaks in the blood sugar level.

Knowledge of the effect of carbohydrates is useful for anyone that has to do with diabetes. A dietician can help you review the carbohydrates in your food pattern.