With more refined diets, obesity, and lifestyle changes, diabetes is increasingly affecting younger adults. Dr. Lin Yi-Xin, a metabolic specialist, shared the case of a 40-year-old slightly overweight woman who tried to lose weight by eating almost exclusively fruit for breakfast and lunch. Within a month, she lost 10 kilograms, but her health rapidly deteriorated. Tests revealed her blood sugar had skyrocketed above 600 mg/dL, and she was diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis, a severe acute complication, requiring immediate ICU admission.
Genetics + Lifestyle = High Risk for Young-Onset Diabetes
Dr. Lin explained that diabetes often results from a combination of family genetics and environmental factors. Statistics show that if both parents have diabetes, a child’s risk can reach 70%; even if only one parent is affected, the risk is about 40%. Young adults may not show symptoms immediately, but as they age, lifestyle and dietary habits can accumulate risk, significantly increasing the chance of developing diabetes.
Fruit-Only Diet Leads to Blood Sugar Spike and Diabetic Ketoacidosis
In this case, the woman, hoping for a “healthy” diet, consumed large amounts of fruit—seven different types—every day. While her weight dropped 10 kilograms in just one month, she noticed her health worsening. Dr. Lin explained that although fruit is nutritious, it contains high levels of fructose, which can sharply raise blood sugar if consumed in large amounts over time. Combined with her genetic predisposition, the extreme diet triggered the activation of latent genes, resulting in diabetic ketoacidosis, a dangerous complication with a mortality rate of about 15%.
Dr. Lin warned that ketoacidosis is a potentially fatal complication of diabetes. The patient required 2–3 days of intensive care, including insulin therapy, hydration, and strict dietary management. Even after discharge, she must continue insulin injections and closely monitor her blood sugar, highlighting the serious impact of diabetes on daily life.
