Do you need to give up sugar completely to control diabetes?

No, and the framing causes more harm than good by making the diet feel impossible. Total carbohydrate quantity matters more than sugar specifically, and rice, roti and potato affect blood glucose substantially — often more than a small sweet. What works better than elimination: consistent carbohydrate portions across meals, choosing lower-glycaemic and higher-fibre options, pairing carbohydrates with protein and fat, and treating sweets as occasional and planned rather than forbidden. Sweetened beverages are the exception worth cutting hard, since they deliver a rapid load with no satiety and no nutritional return.