More than 100 million people in India have diabetes. Is sugar-rich diet to blame? Doctor shares the truth: ‘Sugar is not a direct…’

Not for nothing is Indian known as the diabetes capital of the world. According to the findings suggested in a Lancet study published by the BBC, a shocking 101 million people in India - 11.4 per cent respectively, are living with diabetes. It is well-known that having a diet high in sugar can lead to diabetes.

However taking to X, internal medicine specialist Dr Priyam Bordoloi explained that the the relationship between sugar-heavy diet and diabetes is not always so simple.

Why Sugar Alone Does Not Automatically Lead to Diabetes

Another medical expert, Dr. Suraj Baidya, clarified in the comments that the connection between sugar consumption and diabetes is more complex than many people believe. According to him, the impact of sugar depends largely on the type of diabetes involved.

Type 1 Diabetes

Dr. Baidya explained that Type 1 diabetes is not caused by eating sugar. It develops when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the pancreatic cells responsible for producing insulin. Since this condition is autoimmune in nature, dietary sugar has no role in triggering it.

Type 2 Diabetes

The situation is different for Type 2 diabetes, where sugar is considered a contributing risk factor rather than a direct cause. Regularly consuming excessive amounts of sugar—particularly from sweetened beverages—can lead to weight gain, fat accumulation in the liver, and reduced sensitivity to insulin. These changes raise the likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Over time, the pancreas may no longer be able to produce enough insulin to compensate for increasing insulin resistance, especially in individuals who already have a genetic predisposition to the disease.

Diabetes Is Influenced by Many Factors

Dr. Baidya emphasized that diabetes cannot be blamed on sugar alone. Some individuals consume high amounts of sugar throughout their lives without ever developing diabetes, while others are diagnosed despite having relatively low sugar intake.

This variation occurs because Type 2 diabetes results from multiple interacting factors, including:
Genetics: A family history of diabetes is among the strongest indicators of future risk.
Overall eating habits: The quality of the entire diet—including fiber intake, consumption of processed foods, and whether someone follows healthier dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet instead of a Western-style diet—plays a larger role than sugar alone.
Physical activity: A sedentary lifestyle significantly increases the likelihood of developing the condition.
Lifestyle and gut health: Sleep quality, chronic stress, and the balance of microorganisms in the gut can all affect blood sugar regulation.
Age and ethnicity: Both are known to influence an individual's susceptibility to Type 2 diabetes.

Warning Signs of High Blood Sugar

According to the Cleveland Clinic, persistently elevated blood sugar levels can produce several noticeable symptoms that should not be ignored. Common signs include:

• Excessive thirst and increased appetite.
• Frequent urination.
• Persistent headaches.
• Blurred or impaired vision.
• Ongoing tiredness or lack of energy.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Recurring vaginal yeast infections.
• Frequent skin infections.
• Cuts, wounds, or sores that heal more slowly than usual.