In a nation where diabetes is quickly on the rise, many people wonder just what has caused this spike in the disorder. With a reported 90 percent increase of diabetes in the last ten years, research is beginning to show that there are links between this disease and some of the sweeteners that we consume every day.

What Is HFCS?
HFCS, or high fructose corn syrup, is a sweetener which is made from refined corn syrups. By using an enzymatic process to convert glucose into fructose, the corn syrup is made sweet. Since it is cheaper to produce than many other sweeteners, HFCS is found in many products that we purchase and consume every day. HFCS first became popular in the mid-1970’s.

What Contains HFCS?
High fructose corn syrup can be found in a wide variety of products; in fact, you probably consume some at every meal. Soft drinks are extremely high in HFCS, while other foods such as bread, soups, condiments, and snacks also contain it. Look at the ingredients on the next package of snacks or bottle of pop that your purchase; it’s a sure bet that HFCS will be among the first ingredients listed.

Diabetes And HFCS
Countless research has shown that there is a link between your consumption of high fructose corn syrup and your likelihood of suffering from diabetes. Some studies have gone as far as to suggest that HFCS may increase your risk of diabetes by 85 percent.

Other Dangers
Aside from causing diabetes, high fructose corn syrup also puts consumers at a larger risk for obesity; some researchers have gone as far as to blame HFCS for the rise in weight among our nation. HFCS has also been linked to diseases and disorders such as cancer, heart problems, arthritis, osteoporosis, and early aging.

What Can You Do?
Obviously, one of the first things you can do to prevent diabetes would be to limit your intake of both sugar and high fructose corn syrup. While this is an easy goal to make, life without these popular sweeteners is not as easy as it sounds. Many of the products we run across contain some sort of sweetener and even cooking can be impossible without the help of sugar! To make food tasty without putting their health on the line, many people are choosing to sweeten things with products like Stevia, which are all-natural and safe to use.

Is It Too Late?
If you already suffer from diabetes, then it is not too late! You can still take steps to lower your blood sugar by changing your diet, way of life, and by looking into natural diabetes medication.