Only 40% of the population limits the daily consumption of sugar

According to the latest data from the “Mana aptieka” and “Apotheka” “Health Index” studies, only 40% of the Latvian population limits their consumption of sugar on a daily basis.

Mārīte Šukele, a certified pharmacist of the Apotheka network of pharmacies, explains that excessive sugar intake is one of the risk factors for the development of type 2 diabetes, which currently affects an increasingly young population.

Shukele points out that World Diabetes Day has been celebrated for several years on November 14, with the aim of informing the public about diabetes, its early signs, risk factors and treatment. If you have ever had type 2 diabetes in your middle age, it now affects more and more young people and is mainly related to a sedentary lifestyle, weight gain, poor eating habits and even excessive sugar consumption, the specialist points out.

“Significantly, the study shows that young people follow their sugar consumption much less often than older people,” says the pharmacist.

Experts point out that diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease, the main symptom of which is high blood sugar. Glucose is the body’s main source of energy. To get energy, glucose from the blood must go to the cells – this process is taken care of by the hormone insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. If insulin is not available or not used, glucose remains in the blood.

Prolonged increases in blood sugar can cause damage to blood vessels and nerves, which can also lead to severe damage to the brain, heart, eyes, kidneys and feet, experts say.

A distinction is made between type 1 and type 2 diabetes: the first type is characterized by a complete lack of insulin because it is not produced by the pancreas, while the second type is characterized by reduced insulin secretion and insulin resistance. Type 1 diabetes occurs mainly in childhood or adolescence, but type 2 diabetes occurs during life.

Experts explain that an adult needs 30 grams of sugar per day, children under six – 19 grams, but larger – 24 grams.

“It must be remembered that this is not just the sugar that is added to tea or cooking, but all the total sugar that is ingested throughout the day,” the experts recall.