I think it is a mistake to attribute just a high sugar diet, instead of a high carbohydrate diet.
Your body converts carbs into glucose. So many people know the problem with sugar pop sodas and juices, candy and sweets, but do not know the damage in potatoes, pasta, rice and bread. All of these are the equivalent of their weight in candy, cake, jellyrolls, etc.
I am a diabetic. I can’t tell you how many people said I should eat a plate of spaghetti or a subway sandwich or something. or “No, don’t give him a jelly bean! He’s a diabetic!” But in reality, I have to avoid ALL these things like the plague!
You can say that again. My PCP told me to eliminate sugar, bread and pasta. I found workarounds easily for the sugar and pasta, but I bought into the governmental recommendations re: grains since my 30’s. Tried “keto” breads with “resistant starches” and made my own bread products with nut “flours”. Gained 6 lbs and A1c went from 5.9 to 6. How do you replace grain products?