The Effect of Fructose on Diabetics

Until the 1970s, most of the sugar that was consumed in the United States was derived from sugar cane or sugar beets. Today, sugar comes from a variety of other sources, including corn syrup, dextrose and fructose. For many years, health care professionals recognized fructose as a good thing for diabetic patients who needed an ideal sweetener that would register low on the glycemic index.

Significance

• Fructose is an extremely soluble sugar that goes well in almost any food. The sugar is sweet and easy to produce. Today, fructose is used in a wide range of food products.

Effects

• Originally, fructose was considered a health benefit to diabetics because it would cause only a modest rise in blood sugar levels. However, there is growing concern about fructose's effect on the body.

Warning

• According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, there are indications that the sugar causes elevated blood pressure, abdominal obesity, fatty liver, elevated triglycerides and a host of other problems. Fructose also has many negative metabolic effects.

Type 2 Diabetes

• According to Reuters, diets that are high in fructose are linked to insulin resistance. This can lead to type 2 diabetes. In addition to type 2 diabetes, a diet heavy in high-fructose corn syrup raises the risk of fat buildup in the liver.

Considerations

• According to the Mayo Clinic, the effect of fructose on the body has received conflicting reports from various sources. The Mayo Clinic recommends consuming fructose in moderation while research on the sugar continues.