Say no to candy for your kid, save them from diabetes as adults

When a baby takes their first step, we celebrate with halwa. If they’re a bit cranky, we reach for candy to calm them. And when we’re enjoying some chocolate, we follow the “sharing is caring” mantra.
Pampering our children and marking their little milestones with sweets comes naturally to us. But as much as we love treating them, it’s important to rethink the sugar habit.
Even when parents try to limit their child’s sugar intake, they often face pushback from grandparents, who may argue, “This is how you were raised, and you turned out fine.”
However, times have changed, and so has what we know about nutrition. Our parents didn’t have access to the kind of health information we have today.
According to new research published in Science, reducing sugar intake in a child’s first 1,000 days—starting from conception through age two—may significantly lower their risk of chronic illnesses later in life. The study found that cutting sugar during this critical period could reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes by about 35 per cent. Additionally, it may also lower the risk of high blood pressure by around 20 per cent.
With around 77 million adults in India already living with Type 2 diabetes, a number projected to rise to 134 million by 2045, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), taking mindful steps now could change that trajectory for the next generation.
“Early dietary habits can have a profound impact on long-term health. This study emphasises how essential it is to form healthy eating habits from a young age, as childhood diets can set the foundation for a lifetime of health,” Dr Shreya Dubey, consultant, neonatology and paediatrics, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, tells India Today.
The doctor adds that excess sugar, particularly from added sugars and sugary beverages, can lead to insulin resistance, a key factor in the development of Type 2 diabetes.
According to Dr Dubey, giving infants and toddlers high amounts of added sugar can contribute to an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life. In early childhood, excess sugar intake can also contribute to obesity, a significant risk factor for Type 2 diabetes.
For children, limiting sugar intake can help regulate blood sugar, improve energy levels, and support a healthy weight, all of which contribute to a reduced risk of diabetes and other metabolic disorders.

Excessive sugar consumption can harm your child (Photo: Getty Images)

Dr Dhiren Gupta, paediatric pulmonology and allergy specialist, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, agrees, “Early exposure to a high sugar diet can also result in an increased appetite for sweet foods, desensitisation to sweetness, and an altered gut microbiome.”
Adding to this, Dr Rahul Verma, director, neonatology and general paediatrics, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, shares, “I firmly believe that the natural carbohydrate (sugar) content in food should suffice to maintain the nutritive requirements for children. Sugar is directly utilised by the brain and red blood cells, while all other organs require other metabolites. The foetal and newborn brains grow at a maximal velocity till about 2-3 years of age. Hence, a normal amount of sugar is logical, but an excess has been implicated in causing short and long-term effects.”
Excess sugar can be quite harmful for children, impacting both their short-term and long-term health.
“Sugar in the form of carbohydrates forms an essential component of the macronutrients required for normal growth and development. Excess intake, however, can be very harmful,” adds Dr Verma.
The American Academy of Paediatrics and the World Health Organization recommend avoiding added sugars entirely for children under the age of 2. After age 2, it’s generally safe to introduce small amounts of added sugar in moderation, but it’s best to keep it limited.
For children aged 2-18, the American Heart Association recommends no more than 25 grams (about 6 teaspoons) of added sugar per day.

After two years, children can consume sugar, but it should be in moderation (Photo: Getty Images)

Here are some items that parents often add to their child’s diet that are high in sugar: packaged juices and flavoured drinks, flavoured milk and health drinks, biscuits and cookies, breakfast cereals, packaged yogurt, and flavoured curd, sweets, chocolate spreads and jams, packaged snacks, and chips, bakery items like muffins, cakes, and pastries, ice creams, and other frozen desserts.
Dr Gupta mentions that it is vital for parents to actively monitor their child’s sugar intake and establish restrictions on sugary foods and beverages. They must also promote physical activities to keep their child active and should refrain from using sugar as a reward or source of comfort.