Sugar and carbs both play role in diabetes

From: King Features Syndicate

Dear Dr. Roach:
My husband and I are at odds about sugar and other carbohydrates as a cause of diabetes. I say it’s sugar; he says carbohydrates. Why not just eliminate all sugars, I say to myself? We live in the good ol’ South — the diabetes belt of the U.S. — where sugar exists in all foods. Soon someone shall start injecting sugar into carrots and green beans. — M. and G.S.
Dr. Roach: There are two major forms of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 most commonly occurs in children and adolescents, and is related to an autoimmune destruction of the cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin. People with Type 1 diabetes almost always need insulin injections. Excess sugar intake probably has no bearing on the development of Type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is epidemic not only in the Southern U.S., but also in Mexico and increasingly in all industrialized countries. The exact reason for Type 2 diabetes remains incompletely understood, but certainly it has to do with resistance to insulin. Insulin levels in Type 2 diabetics usually are higher than they are in people without diabetes. However, the body has a decreased ability to secrete large amounts of insulin in response to sugar intake than normal people, which is why high blood sugar after ingesting sugar is a way of diagnosing the condition early.
Sugar is a simple carbohydrate, and refined carbohydrates or starches, such as pasta and potatoes, are chemically long strings of sugar molecules, which the body can rapidly turn into sugar. So, you and your husband are both partially right. When combined with protein (as in whole grains) or eaten with fat, complex carbohydrates like starches are absorbed more slowly and are less likely to cause stress to the pancreas. It is thought that reducing insulin requirements from the pancreas by eating less simple and refined carbohydrates reduces the likelihood of developing diabetes, even in someone who has a genetic predisposition. It is critical to keep weight in a normal range, since obesity itself causes insulin resistance and predisposes a person to diabetes.
Carrots and green beans do have natural sugar, but they also contain fiber. They have a minimal effect on raising blood sugar. Some fruits are so high in sugar that they should be eaten only in moderation. These include figs, mangoes, grapes and dates.

http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/life/2016/04/22/sugar-carbs-play-role-diabetes/83357556/