text: Eating or drinking sugar does not cause diabetes..Family history,being over weight, lack of exercise..is the main reasons people get it.\nWhen you have diabetes your body doesn't produce and or use insulin properly,,That is why a person with diabetes has to watch what food/drinks they consume..because their body doesn't use insulin the way ..say yours does.. \n If you don't have major risk factors for it 4 teaspoons of sugar a day will not cause you to have diabetes..If you want a good alternative to real sugar try splenda..it tastes just like real sugar...I use it in my kids kool-aid and they love it. Also my mom used to be a sugar hound and I gave her a bag of splenda last year and she hasn't bought real sugar again..she even bakes with it.. Give it a try..it is pretty pricey compared to regular sugar,but worth it!!