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Life’s First Thousand Days – The Sweet Danger

Benefits of Decreasing Sugar Intake Daily: How Reducing Sugar Intake Can Prevent Diabetes

benefits of decreasing sugar intake. Healthy meal with fruits and vegetables
A balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables can help reduce the risk of diabetes and obesity.

The first thousand days of life are crucial—if sugar is avoided during this period, the risk of diabetes and high blood pressure in adulthood can be significantly reduced. Sindh leads Punjab in diabetes prevalence, with a risk rate of 14.4%. In urban areas, the risk is 15.5%, while in rural areas, it stands at 13.9%.

Diabetes is spreading rapidly, closely linked to rising obesity rates. Foods like sugar, rice, potatoes, wheat, fried items, and breakfast items soaked in ghee or oil contribute to obesity, which in turn fuels diabetes and high blood pressure.

benefits of decreasing sugar intake. Healthy food options for balanced diet
Balance Foods low in sugar, like those shown here, can decrease the risk of diabetes and obesity.

Scientific research connects childhood sugar consumption to diabetes risk. A study published in the October 2024 issue of a science journal found that avoiding sugar from pregnancy to birth and up to two years of age can reduce the risk of diabetes by 35% and lower the likelihood of high blood pressure by 20%. This research analyzed individuals born in the UK during the sugar rationing period of 1953 and compared them to those born after rationing ended. Those born during rationing showed a 35% lower incidence of diabetes and a 20% lower occurrence of high blood pressure. Even if they developed these conditions, they did so four and two years later, respectively, than those born after rationing.

During the rationing period, individuals received only as much sugar as modern nutritionists now recommend. The study highlighted the long-term impact of early sugar consumption on health. Pregnant women who consume more than 80 grams of sugar daily instead of the recommended 40 grams risk their children’s future health, increasing the chances of diabetes and high blood pressure.

In the U.S., expectant mothers consume high amounts of sugar, and infants are introduced to sweet foods early, which contributes to the spread of these diseases.

Benefits of decreasing sugar intake. Always prefer healthy foods with low sugar.
A balanced diet with plenty of whole foods, like those shown here, can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity

The research emphasizes the importance of avoiding sugar during pregnancy and early childhood to prevent future health issues. It compared individuals born in the sugar-rationing period (October 1951 to June 1954) with those born afterward (July 1954 to March 1956). Findings showed that obesity rates were 30% lower during the rationing period. Today, over 400 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes, many of whom depend on insulin.

Science journalist Gary Taubes argues that carbohydrates, not fats, are responsible for obesity, which is the root cause of many diseases, including diabetes and high blood pressure.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system attacks insulin-producing cells, requiring lifelong insulin treatment.

Research on animals shows that excessive sugar consumption during pregnancy leads to health problems in adulthood. Babies introduced to sweet foods early become addicted to sugar, making it difficult to control their intake later in life.

In the U.S., doctors recommend introducing infants to bland foods such as avocados instead of custards, jellies, or sweet fruits to prevent sugar addiction.

Formula milk products often contain high amounts of sugar, which can increase the risk of diabetes, affecting the heart, kidneys, eyes, and nervous system. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body either does not produce enough insulin or cannot use it properly. Insulin was discovered in 1920, and experts suggest that dietary changes can help manage diabetes effectively.

benefits of decreasing sugar intake, Infographic about sugar consumption risks
Excessive sugar consumption during pregnancy and early childhood can increase the risk of diabetes and obesity.”

Diabetic patients often experience excessive thirst and urination, unaware of their condition. They tend to consume sugary drinks, worsening their situation. Neal Barsky, a former Wall Street journalist, described obesity and diabetes as modern epidemics that disproportionately affect the poor and marginalized communities.

He stated that over 100,000 people would die from diabetes this year—an avoidable tragedy. Barsky himself managed to control his diabetes after an alarming diagnosis of HbA1c at 11.3%, far above the normal prediabetic level of 5.7%.

Professor Roy Taylor asserts that reducing carbohydrate intake is key to controlling diabetes. The sooner society acknowledges the link between diet and health, the better the chances of overcoming these diseases.

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Written by Dr. Murli Dhar, Urologist, Reconstruction and Gentourinary Fistula Surgeon

Dr. Muli Dhar is a distinguished urologist specializing in bladder reconstruction and genitourinary fistula surgery. Beyond his surgical expertise, he is an accomplished writer, poet, and vlogger, sharing his insights and creative endeavors with a wide audience. Dr. Dhar believes that everyone has the right to good health.

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