The Sugar Threat

Sugar. In its simplest form, it fuels all living things. As humans, we cannot function without it. Unfortunately though, sugar is fast becoming one of the world’s biggest problems, threatening millions of lives as one on the primary causes of diabetes, now considered a global pandemic.

Every year, on the 14th of November, the world commemorates World Diabetes Day. A few people may engage in walks, sporting events and talk shows about diabetes but we need to walk to talk. But does the public really understand how serious the threat of diabetes is? Here’s a fact that may put things in perspective: diabetes kills the same number of people as tobacco does.

To those who are unaware of the scale of the problem, these numbers may come as a something of a shock. And yet, the figures are undeniable; the World Health Organization puts the number of global tobacco-related deaths at one every six seconds, and the International Diabetes Federation’s Diabetes Atlas quotes the same number for diabetes-related deaths (approximately 5 million people). What’s even more frightening is that both substances are proven to be addictive.

“Diabetes is an insidious disease that’s becoming a very serious issue here,” states Dr. Mahen Wijesuriya Secretary of DASL and Honorary Director of the National Diabetes Centre. “The prevalence of diabetes in Sri Lanka is 10.3%, that’s 2.1 million people suffering from the disease. Another 2.3 million Sri Lankans above the age of 20 have pre-diabetes. Research done at the NDC indicated that 40% of urban youth are physically inactive while 8.2% have abnormal glucose levels in the under 20 age category. Every day, around the country, 100 people die of diabetes related illnesses.”

It’s not surprising – according to the Ministry of Health, the average Sri Lankan takes 9 teaspoons of refined sugar per day where World Health Organisation recommends a 50% reduction to 25 grams per day or 4-5 teaspoons of free sugar per day. “People lead very stressful lives today, and it’s very easy to neglect one’s health,” says Dr. Wijesuriya. “Our sugar consumption is a particular problem. With the amount of sweetened tea we drink and increasing fast food consumption, it’s very easy for Sri Lankans to get addicted to sugar from a young age.”

Sugar is introduced to childrens’ diets by their parents and children soon become accustomed to sweet food and beverages – this is the starting point of a lifelong fixation. The vicious cycle of addiction to sugar is one you would barely notice. You consumer sugar; you become accustomed to the taste and begin to crave it; without you knowing, your blood glucose level spikes, dopamine is released in your brain and you quickly become addicted.

While your brain welcomes blood glucose, your body soon recognizes that it has too much and begins to secrete large amounts of insulin to drop your blood glucose level as fast as possible, quickly storing all the excess glucose as fat.

Then, your body, low on sugar as a result of these high insulin levels, craves the sugar high again and your appetite increases – thus the cycle is repeated. Eventually, as high insulin levels cause weight gain and obesity, you body begins to become increasingly intolerant of insulin, leading to pre-diabetes and then diabetes.

“Sugar is undoubtedly as addictive as tobacco, and consumed from a much younger age,” emphasizes Dr. Wijesuriya. “Overconsumption of sugar can wreak havoc in your body, leading not only to diabetes but obesity, heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and many, many other complications. There is no cure for diabetes, you can only prevent it or control it through a healthy lifestyle. That is why we are pushing for awareness, because preventing diabetes is in your hands.”

Diabetes is an insidious disease that’s becoming a very serious issue here,” states Dr. Mahen Wijesuriya Secretary of DASL and Honorary Director of the National Diabetes Centre. “The prevalence of diabetes in Sri Lanka is 10.3%, that’s 2.1 million people suffering from the disease