The doctor named the reasons for the constant craving for sweets

There is a widespread hypothesis that a constant craving for sweets is a sign of diabetes. However, this statement has no scientific basis, Lyubov Stankevich, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Director of Laboratory Medicine and Production at the LabQuest medical company, told Izvestia on April 1. She explained how eating habits and metabolism are related, why sugar can become a problem, and when to check blood glucose levels.

"First of all, it should be understood that diabetes is a disease associated with impaired glucose metabolism in the body, and not with dependence on sweets. The feeling of sugar deficiency can be caused by a variety of factors, from a low—calorie diet to banal fatigue. The body requires fast carbohydrates when it feels a lack of energy, but this does not mean that the problem is always related to the endocrine system," she said.

According to her, cravings for sweets are often caused by eating habits and dietary patterns. For example, if a person skips meals or eats too many simple carbohydrates, the blood sugar level first rises sharply, and then drops just as sharply. In response, the body requires a new portion of sweets. As a result, a person gets used to getting energy not from complex carbohydrates or fats, but from sugar, which can lead to the formation of a stable addiction.

"Processing different macronutrients requires different amounts of energy. For example, the body spends more resources on the absorption of fats and proteins than on the breakdown of carbohydrates, and sugar processing requires minimal costs. It is instantly absorbed, quickly enters the bloodstream and gives a surge of energy. But the effect does not last long either — soon the sugar level drops, causing a new attack of hunger. This mechanism underlies the dependence on sweets, comparable to the effect of addiction to caffeine or nicotine," said Stankevich.

Lack of sleep, stress, magnesium and chromium deficiency can increase the desire to eat something sweet. When magnesium is deficient, nerve impulse transmission worsens and fatigue develops, while chromium is involved in regulating blood sugar levels. If these trace elements are not enough, the body tries to compensate for the lack of energy through sugar, the expert explained.

The doctor drew attention to the fact that it would take time to change habits. The specialist advised to gradually reduce the amount of sugar in tea and cereals, replacing it with a small amount of honey or removing it from the diet altogether. It is also important to monitor your diet: if you eat regularly and in a balanced way, the need for fast carbohydrates will gradually decrease. A good option is to add more complex carbohydrates to your diet, such as whole grains and legumes, as well as proteins that take longer to digest and provide a stable energy level.

At the same time, the expert noted that the constant consumption of sweets can lead to diabetes.

"Excess sugar overloads the pancreas, forcing it to produce more insulin. Over time, this can lead to its depletion, and the tissues gradually lose sensitivity to insulin, which is how type 2 diabetes develops. This disease develops over the years, and its early stages can be asymptomatic, so it is important to monitor your diet and blood sugar levels in advance," said Stankevich.

A reliable way to check the risks is to take a glycated hemoglobin test. If its value is below 5.7%, there is no cause for concern, but if it is above 6.4%, it is already a confirmed diabetes requiring medical intervention. It is especially important to check it if there are risk factors: low physical activity, overweight, high blood pressure, cases of diabetes in relatives or over the age of 45.

Earlier, on January 29, Natia Chekhoeva, a gastroenterologist and endoscopist at the Gastro Clinic, told Izvestia that the systematic consumption of excessive calories inevitably overloads the body. As a result, it puts a strain on internal organs, including the heart, liver, and pancreas.