India is home to 77 million diabetics, second highest in the world

Blood glucose is often referred to as blood sugar. Glucose is found in most carbohydrates but is not synonymous with sugar.

Being overweight increases the risk for developing type 2 diabetes, and a diet that includes excessive caloric intake from any source contributes to weight gain. While sugar does provide calories and can contribute to weight gain when eaten in excess of calorie needs, experts agree that “Type 2 diabetes is not caused by sugar, but by genetics and lifestyle factors.

For individuals with diabetes, sweets in moderation and nutritious foods with added sugars can be a part of a healthy diet, as long as the total carbohydrates fit within their daily carbohydrate goal.

There has been extensive research focused on soda or other caloric beverages and their role in health outcomes. While these studies provide data on the role that caloric beverages may have in health, these beverages are not a proxy for all the ways that sugar is consumed in the diet, and these studies should not be extrapolated to represent the role of sugar in health.