On the Tayyibat system, eating white sugar does not raise insulin at all.
Original statement
انا استحاله على نظام الطيبات لو بلبت السكر انسولينك يعلى سنتي
verbatim according to source. Translation by the project; the Arabic wording is authoritative.
Translation
On the Tayyibat system, eating white sugar does not raise insulin at all.
Origin
- Source status
- Video transcript (own words)
- Attribution
- Elawady (machine transcript)
- Video
- Dr Diaa Al Awady د ضياء العوضي is live! مقاومة أنسولين (Open source)
- Published
- 29 June 2025
- Timestamp
- 0:03:35 (location in the original video’s automatic YouTube caption track; confirms where the words occur, not who speaks)
- Attribution uncertainty
- Machine/CC transcript; wording may contain transcription errors.
- Claimed mechanism
Insulin is raised by flour 'blockage', not by sugar.
- Claimed health effect
No insulin response to sugar.
- Population concerned
Followers of the system
- Geographic restriction by Elawady
none found
Scientific assessment
False – The statement contradicts the robust evidence.
Certainty of evidence: high – Further research is very unlikely to change the assessment.
1. What was claimed?
Sugar does not raise insulin on this diet.
2. What is demonstrably correct?
An insulin rise after sugar is a normal response and not harmful in itself in healthy people.
3. What is wrong or exaggerated?
Sugar ingestion raises blood glucose and insulin regardless of the rest of the diet (I-SUG-07). No mechanism exists by which avoiding flour would abolish this response.
4. What remains unclear?
None material.
5. Which studies support it?
None.
6. Which studies contradict it?
I-SUG-07 and I-SUG-101 (randomised crossover trials: sucrose drinks produced large early glucose and insulin rises in healthy adults); I-SUG-102 (sucrose meals raised glucose like starch and produced insulin peaks similar to other carbohydrates).
7. What applies to Germany and Europe?
Not region-specific.
8. What is known about Egypt?
Not region-specific.
9. What practical conclusion is appropriate?
People monitoring glucose should expect sugar to raise it.
Assessment details
- Rationale for certainty of evidence
Basic physiology: ingested glucose/sucrose stimulates insulin secretion in people with functioning beta cells; a randomized crossover trial in healthy adults found that a sucrose-sweetened cola produced the highest insulin response compared with carbonated water and sweetener drinks.
- Source quality
Own words (machine transcript).
- Regional transferability
Universal.
- Individual exceptions
People with type 1 diabetes produce little or no insulin, so their blood glucose rises sharply without an insulin response.
- Regional scope of the claim
- general (biological/medical)
- Last reviewed
- 26 October 2026 provisional
Scientific evidence in detail
Scientifically refuted – High-quality evidence shows the opposite, or the claim contradicts well-established physiology.
Research question: Does eating white sugar (sucrose) raise insulin in people with functioning beta cells, regardless of the overall diet followed?
Research question in detail (PICO)
- Population
- Healthy adults and people with type 2 diabetes with residual insulin secretion; people with type 1 diabetes for glucose effects
- Intervention or exposure
- Ingestion of sucrose (white sugar)
- Comparison
- Water, non-nutritive sweeteners, other carbohydrates
- Geographic scope
- universal biology
- Outcomes
- Plasma insulin
- Plasma glucose
Study results as reported by the authors. Our assessment follows below.
What speaks for the claim?
No high-quality evidence supporting the claim was found.
What speaks against the claim?
Sugar drink raises insulin quickly
Tey SL et al.. Int J Obes (Lond) 2017 · PMID 27956737 · DOI 10.1038/ijo.2016.225 Randomised controlled trialabstract checkednewly addedIn a randomised crossover trial, a 65 g sucrose drink produced large early spikes in blood glucose and insulin in healthy men.
- Actual result
- Large glucose and insulin spikes in the first hour after sucrose; NNS drinks did not produce them (3-h AUC similar because of later lunch).
- Methodological quality
- moderate (small RCT)
- Relevance
- direct
- Limitations
- 30 healthy men only; acute.
Sugar cola vs diet cola vs sparkling water: blood sugar and insulin
Galicia-Ayala C et al.. Nutrition 2026 · PMID 41016269 · DOI 10.1016/j.nut.2025.112938 Randomised controlled trialabstract checkedRandomised crossover trial: a sucrose-sweetened cola produced the highest glucose and insulin responses versus carbonated water and sweetener drinks.
- Actual result
- Significant glucose and insulin increases at 30 min (P<0.001) after sucrose only.
- Methodological quality
- moderate (small RCT)
- Relevance
- direct
- Limitations
- 20 healthy adults; acute.
Sugar in a meal acts like starch
Bantle JP et al.. N Engl J Med 1983 · PMID 6343873 · DOI 10.1056/NEJM198307073090102 Otherabstract checkednewly addedSucrose meals raised glucose like starch meals and produced insulin peaks similar to other carbohydrates in healthy and type 2 subjects.
- Actual result
- No significant difference in peak insulin between sucrose and other carbohydrate meals.
- Methodological quality
- moderate
- Relevance
- direct (shows sucrose behaves like other carbohydrates)
- Limitations
- Small, 1983.
What does the overall evidence say?
Editorial assessment based on the studies above – not itself a study result.
Which position is better supported?
Sugar raises insulin in everyone with functioning beta cells; no diet abolishes this response.
Why some studies weigh more
Randomised human feeding studies and basic physiology agree; the honest supporting search found no study reporting absent insulin response to sucrose.
Is a causal relationship established? Yes, established Sucrose is hydrolysed to glucose and fructose; glucose stimulates insulin secretion.
Remaining uncertainty
None relevant.
Justified conclusion
This claim is false.
Does this depend on the country?
- General biological effects
- Universal physiology.
A regional difference that changes the conclusion is not supported by robust data.
Statistical re-check
- Interpretation of equal 3-h AUC despite early sucrose spike – Equal AUC reflects the later lunch response after NNS drinks; it does not imply absent insulin response to sugar not recalculable from the published data
Certainty of the overall evidence (GRADE, simplified)
- Main outcome
- Insulin response to sucrose ingestion
- Starting level
- high (randomised trials)
- Result
- high
Simplified assessment by a single reviewer, following the GRADE approach; not a formal GRADE panel. GRADE rates the body of evidence for one outcome, not individual studies.
Clinical guidelines and official statements checked
- ADA: 9. Pharmacologic Approaches to Glycemic Treatment: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2026 (I-ODD-16) (2026) · Original publication
Rec. 9.1 (A): treat most adults with type 1 diabetes with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion or multiple daily doses of prandial and basal insulin; 9.3: match mealtime insulin to carbohydrate intake.
Search strategy
Documented literature searches for this review (search strings in the original database syntax).
| Database | Date | Search | Looking for | Hits | Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe PMC | 26 October 2026 | (sucrose OR "table sugar") AND ("does not increase insulin" OR "no insulin response" OR "did not increase insulin" OR "no increase in insulin") | supporting evidence | 4277 | |
| PubMed | 26 October 2026 | (sucrose[tiab] OR sugar[tiab]) AND (insulin secretion[tiab] OR insulin response[tiab]) AND (no change[tiab] OR unchanged[tiab] OR "did not increase"[tiab]) AND humans[mh] | supporting evidence | 14 | |
| Europe PMC | 26 October 2026 | TITLE:(sucrose) AND TITLE:(insulin) AND (postprandial OR "insulin response") AND (healthy OR normal) AND (crossover OR randomized) | contradicting evidence | 18 | |
| PubMed | 26 October 2026 | Bantle JP[au] AND sucrose AND postprandial | contradicting evidence | 5 | |
| PubMed | 26 October 2026 | (sucrose[ti] OR sugar[ti]) AND (insulin[ti]) AND (healthy[tiab]) AND (randomized controlled trial[pt] OR crossover[tiab]) | contradicting evidence | 12 |
Open questions
None.
How deeply was this checked?
3 linked studies: 0 checked in full text (0 of them with a structured risk-of-bias assessment), 3 on the basis of the abstract, 0 bibliographically only. No formal assessment with two independent reviewers and no independent human expert review has taken place yet.
Last scientific review: 26 October 2026
History of the verdict
In plain language
Dr. Diaa said that on his system, sugar does not raise insulin. In reality, eating sugar raises blood sugar, and the pancreas releases insulin in response; a study with a sugar-sweetened cola showed exactly this in healthy adults. This is normal physiology and does not depend on avoiding flour.
Studies on this claim
Studies supporting the claim (0)
No studies in this group.
Studies contradicting or limiting the claim (3)
-
Sugar cola vs diet cola vs sparkling water: blood sugar and insulin
Galicia-Ayala C et al.. Nutrition 2026 · PMID 41016269 · DOI 10.1016/j.nut.2025.112938Randomised controlled trialindependent cross-checkabstract checkedSugar-sweetened cola raised blood sugar and insulin most; diet cola and sparkling water did not.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: moderate · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Acute glucose and hormone responses to sucrose vs NNS colas.
- How was the study done?
Randomized crossover trial, 4 beverages, 7-day washout.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
20; Healthy adults
- What was actually found?
Sucrose beverage elicited the highest glucose and insulin responses with significant increases at 30 min (P<0.001); aspartame/acesulfame-K and carbonated water showed no significant differences in glucose or hormones.
- How large was the observed effect?
Significant rise at 30 min
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Sugar raises insulin in healthy people.
- What are the study's limitations?
Small; Acute only
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Contradicts C-SUG-04 and C-SUG-07; context for C-SOD-13 (carbonated water had no hormonal effect).
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
High (physiology).
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Long-term effects.
-
Sugar drink raises insulin quickly
Tey SL et al.. Int J Obes (Lond) 2017 · PMID 27956737 · DOI 10.1038/ijo.2016.225Randomised controlled trialindependent cross-checkabstract checked★ key studyA drink with 65 g of table sugar caused large rises in blood sugar and insulin within the first hour in 30 healthy men.
Sucrose drink caused large early glucose and insulin spikes in healthy men.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: moderate · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Compare blood sugar and insulin after sugar-sweetened and sweetener-sweetened drinks.
- How was the study done?
Each man drank four different drinks on separate days in random order; blood was taken repeatedly.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
30 healthy men in Singapore.
- What was actually found?
The sugar drink caused large early spikes in glucose and insulin.
- How large was the observed effect?
Statistical tests on time courses; 3-h totals similar because of the later lunch.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Eating or drinking sugar makes the body release insulin; this is normal physiology.
- What are the study's limitations?
Small, men only, short-term.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Contradicts the claim that sugar does not raise insulin.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Applies everywhere; physiology does not differ by country.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Cannot say anything about long-term health effects of sweeteners.
-
Sugar in a meal acts like starch
Bantle JP et al.. N Engl J Med 1983 · PMID 6343873 · DOI 10.1056/NEJM198307073090102Otherindependent cross-checkabstract checkedIn 1983, meals containing table sugar raised blood sugar about as much as meals with potato or wheat starch, in healthy people and people with diabetes.
Sucrose meals raised glucose like other carbohydrate meals; insulin responses in healthy and type 2 subjects were similar to other carbohydrates.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: moderate · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Test whether the type of carbohydrate changes blood sugar and insulin after a meal.
- How was the study done?
Participants ate five meals that differed only in the type of carbohydrate.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
10 healthy adults, 12 with type 1 and 10 with type 2 diabetes.
- What was actually found?
Sucrose meals did not raise blood sugar more than starch meals; insulin peaks were similar.
- How large was the observed effect?
No significant differences between sucrose and starch meals.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
A small amount of sugar inside a balanced meal is handled like other carbohydrates.
- What are the study's limitations?
Short single-meal tests; old study; small groups.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Supports including some sugar in a meal plan; gives no support for stopping insulin.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Physiology applies in Europe and Egypt.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Cannot show that large sugar intakes or stopping insulin are safe.
No study in this group is marked as key.
Studies with mixed or unclear results (0)
No studies in this group.
Regional context
Germany / EU
Not region-specific.
Egypt
Not region-specific.
What applies in my country?
General scientific assessment
False False: sugar raises insulin in everyone with functioning insulin production.
The following areas of food safety are relevant to this statement:
- Additives and processing
Honey, sugar, sweets
Choose a country to see the checked information for it.
Limits: legal rules describe what is allowed, not what every single food contains. Measurement data come from samples and are meaningful only together with their method details.
Country of residence or purchase Compare with another country
References
- Enteroendocrine hormonal response after the ingestion of cola beverages with sucrose and non-nutritive sweeteners in healthy adults: A randomized crossover trial.. Galicia-Ayala C et al.. Nutrition 2026 · PMID 41016269 · DOI 10.1016/j.nut.2025.112938
- Effects of aspartame-, monk fruit-, stevia- and sucrose-sweetened beverages on postprandial glucose, insulin and energy intake.. Tey SL et al.. Int J Obes (Lond) 2017 · PMID 27956737 · DOI 10.1038/ijo.2016.225
- Postprandial glucose and insulin responses to meals containing different carbohydrates in normal and diabetic subjects.. Bantle JP et al.. N Engl J Med 1983 · PMID 6343873 · DOI 10.1056/NEJM198307073090102