Tribune: Type II diabetes, the sweet pleasure trap

                                                                                                                                                                    DISSEMINATING IN HEALTH 

                                                                          RICARDO VILLA-BELLOSTA'S TRIBUNE  

Diabetes has become one of the most prevalent and worrying chronic diseases in the modern world. Currently, an estimated 537 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes, with a significant majority (around 90-95%) diagnosed with type II diabetes. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), this figure continues to rise rapidly, with the number expected to reach 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045. This growth, driven largely by population ageing, lifestyle changes and modern dietary patterns, represents a critical global public health challenge.

Type II diabetes, often considered the ‘pleasure disease’, is closely linked to unhealthy eating habits that provide immediate gratification but can have devastating long-term consequences. In fact, current research in neuroscience and nutrition confirms that foods rich in simple sugars, such as sweets, cakes and soft drinks, activate reward centres in the brain, generating feelings of satisfaction and well-being. However, this immediate gratification can lead to a vicious cycle of overconsumption and calorie accumulation, which eventually results in weight gain, one of the main factors in the development of type II diabetes. This disease, which starts as a pleasurable act, thus ends up as a trap that seriously compromises quality of life.

To break the cycle of this ‘sweet trap’, food education is essential. Understanding the effects that certain foods have on the human body and the importance of a balanced diet can help people make informed and responsible choices. In addition, regular physical activity plays a crucial role in this disease. We know that physical exercise, such as walking, running or playing sports, can reduce the risk of developing type II diabetes by 30%. The release of endorphins during exercise also contributes to a sense of well-being, thus minimising dependence on sugary foods for satisfaction.

Type II diabetes is therefore emerging as one of today's major public health challenges, and its connection to the ephemeral pleasure of eating poses a dilemma that goes beyond individual choice. Recognising that momentary pleasure can lead to chronic disease is essential to changing behavioural patterns. Food education, together with the promotion of active and healthy lifestyles, represents a key strategy to free people from the ‘sweet trap’ of diabetes.

The challenge lies in building a culture that values health care as a source of pleasure in itself. Ultimately, true pleasure lies in the ability to enjoy life without compromising our health, understanding that the best reward is a future free of preventable diseases. Only by adopting a full awareness of the choices we make today can we build a tomorrow where pleasure and health are in harmony.