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What Causes Sugar Cravings in Diabetics

Sugar is the basic fuel of cells. But that doesn't mean we have to eat sugary foods. The body manufactures the sugar it needs, called glucose, from all the carbohydrates we eat. But if that glucose is not getting to the cells, a craving for sugar might result. What causes sugar cravings in diabetics is usually not low blood sugar, but an inability of cells to utilize blood sugar. Several factors like obesity, insulin resistance and nutrient deficiency reinforce this condition, over time leading to the onset of diabetes and creating sugar cravings.

  1. Cravings and Carbs

    • Cravings are the body's way of telling you that something's missing. In most people, cravings for sugar and other simple carbohydrates usually indicates their blood sugar is too low and their cells are being starved of fuel. But in a diabetic, this is not necessarily the case. Diabetes is a condition in which sugar in the blood is not effectively utilized, either because of insufficient production of insulin or insulin resistance. So, in a diabetic, the cells are starved and the craving for sugar is created, but there might very well be more than enough sugar in the blood already that is not being used.

    Insulin Resistance

    • Type 2 diabetics are susceptible to abnormally high levels of blood sugar because they have developed a condition known as insulin resistance. Usually, this develops over decades of eating processed foods that are high in carbohydrates. The cells of the body build a tolerance to insulin and higher levels are needed to effectively metabolize the blood sugar released from food. Eventually, the pancreas is unable to maintain insulin production at the required levels. At this point, blood sugar levels remain abnormally high for long periods and cells become starved.

    Obesity

    • After diet, obesity is one of the greatest factors that leads to insulin resistance. This is because obesity tends to cause the liver to produce excess glucose from stored fat. The extra glucose enters the blood stream in addition to sugars and simple carbs directly absorbed from the diet. This excess glucose accelerates the process that leads to insulin resistance, but not all obese persons ultimately develop the condition. Nevertheless, obesity is widely considered a causal factor of diabetes and the sugar cravings that can result.

    Nutrient Deficiency

    • Type 2 diabetics produce high levels of insulin as a result of their insulin resistance and persistently high blood sugar levels. This heightened insulin production itself can lead to deficiencies in other essential nutrients, particularly calcium and magnesium, which are essential to insulin production and secretion. These nutrient deficiencies in turn can lead to food cravings, as the body is starved of nutrients it needs.

    Chromium Deficiency

    • Another connection between insulin and the utilization of blood sugar is a special chemical called glucose tolerance factor, or GTF, which is essential to the proper function of insulin. At least some insulin resistance is credited to a deficiency in the glucose tolerance factor. At its core, GTF consists of trivalent chromium. Many of the processed foods that are linked to diabetes are also low in chromium, so heightened insulin production paired with poor diet, can lead to chromium deficiency that reinforces insulin resistance and sugar cravings.

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