Diabetes in Children

Will Eliminating High Fructose Corn Syrup from My Child's Diet Keep Type 2 Diabetes at Bay?

Neva Cochran, M.S., R.D., L.D.
Let's separate fact from fiction.  High fructose corn syrup does not cause diabetes nor is it responsible for the rising rate of this disease. The known causes of type 2 diabetes are complex, yet what is clear is that no particular food, beverage or ingredient (including high fructose corn syrup) can be singled out. Instead, the primary risk factors for type 2 diabetes are excess weight, particularly too much abdominal fat, genetics and too little physical activity.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not make enough, or is unable to properly use, insulin - a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin allows the carbohydrates in foods to be used by the body for energy. Carbohydrates come in both simple (sugar, high fructose corn syrup, honey, fructose in fruit, lactose in milk) and complex (starch as in flour, bread, cereal, rice, pasta) sources. All of the carbohydrates from these foods are broken down or converted into glucose, the only sugar the body can use for energy. And, here's an important fact: the body does not distinguish the original source of the glucose - sugar, high fructose corn syrup, honey, fruit, milk or starch.

In fact, the 2005 Dietary Guidelines Committee, a joint committee of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, reviewed available scientific data and concluded in their report that "current evidence suggests that there is no relationship between total carbohydrate intake and the incidence of either type 1 or type 2 diabetes." The committee also stated, "there is no evidence that total sugar intake is associated with the development of type 2 diabetes."

For adults and children with type 2 diabetes, losing weight is the key to controlling or even eliminating the condition. Parents can help their children achieve a nutritious diet by following the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPyramid, which includes eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and grains along with moderate amounts of lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs and beans, low fat dairy products and healthy fats. By consuming appropriate food portions and accumulating at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children can attain and maintain a healthy weight, as well as lower their risk of diabetes and other health problems.

The bottom line is simple. High fructose corn syrup and other sweeteners in your child's diet do not cause type 2 diabetes. Ultimately, excess calories from all sources, a sedentary lifestyle and genetic make-up cause diabetes in children.

Neva H. Cochran, M.S., R.D., L.D., is a registered and licensed dietitian, a nutrition consultant, and a writer based in Dallas, Texas. In addition to working with national organizations and corporations as a nutrition and health consultant and spokesperson, Cochran has been a contributing columnist and researcher for Woman's World magazine for 15 years.