Diabetes is a dangerous disease that more and more people are suffering from today. Without strict control of diet and lifestyle, it can quietly destroy the body — and in severe cases, take a life.

What’s alarming is that diabetes is no longer a disease limited to the elderly. It’s increasingly common among younger people, yet many still underestimate its dangers or fail to recognize its warning signs.

One heartbreaking case in China has recently gone viral, serving as a painful reminder to stay vigilant about this silent killer.

A tragic case of neglect

Zhou Liang (47, name changed), a factory worker, was once known as the “beauty” of her textile plant. She led a stable, happy life with her husband — until her health began to decline without warning.

She often felt exhausted, couldn’t get out of bed, and lost weight rapidly. Alarmed by her worsening condition, friends and family urged her to see a doctor.

After undergoing tests, doctors delivered devastating news: Liang was in the final stage of diabetes. Even insulin treatment could no longer save her.

That meant she had been living with the disease for years without realizing it. Because she rarely went for checkups and didn’t pay attention to her diet, her condition quietly worsened over time.

When her husband heard the diagnosis, he was heartbroken. Witnesses said he squatted at the hospital gate in tears, unable to accept that his seemingly healthy wife could have such a deadly illness.

Despite doctors’ best efforts, Ms. Liang passed away soon after, at only 47 years old.

The unexpected culprit in her kitchen

To understand what caused her condition to deteriorate so quickly, doctors examined Liang’s eating habits — and discovered a surprising culprit: soy sauce.

According to her family, Ms. Liang loved to cook and used soy sauce in almost every dish. She even poured extra for dipping at meals.

While soy sauce is made from soybeans and grains and contains some nutrients, it’s also extremely high in salt. Excess sodium can disrupt the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar, especially for people with or at risk of diabetes.

High sodium intake affects insulin secretion, preventing glucose from being properly absorbed. Over time, this leads to dangerously elevated blood sugar levels — and can accelerate the progression of diabetes.

Doctors warn: limit these three types of foods

From Liang’s case, doctors have issued a strong warning: people with diabetes, or anyone at risk, should strictly limit the following types of food to avoid dangerous complications.

1. High-sugar foods
Soft drinks, candies, sweet fruits like lychees, longans, and watermelons, and dried fruits all contain large amounts of sugar. These cause insulin levels to drop while blood sugar rises rapidly, making diabetes harder to control.

2. Refined grains
Processed grains lose most of their vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein. Because they have a high glycemic index, refined grains can cause blood sugar to spike, forcing the body to produce more insulin — which increases the risk of diabetes.

3. High-fat meats and dairy products
These foods are rich in saturated fat, which increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The American Diabetes Association recommends that saturated fat intake not exceed 7% of total daily calories.

High-fat meats include beef tenderloin, lamb, pork chops, dark poultry, organ meats, fried chicken, sausages, cold cuts, and bacon.
High-fat dairy products include whole milk, cream, butter, heavy cream, and cheeses such as cheddar.