The Caribbean

A Region Defined by Sugar

The Caribbean has a unique historical relationship with sugar—both production and consumption. Today, that legacy intersects with modern processed food systems.

What Changed

Traditional:

• root crops
• fish
• local produce

Modern:

• sugary beverages
• processed foods
• refined starches

Mechanism

• Fructose via GLUT5
• Liver metabolism via Ketohexokinase

Disease Expression

• High Type 2 diabetes prevalence
• Obesity
• Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease

Why the Caribbean Matters

The Caribbean reflects both:

• historical sugar exposure,
• and modern processed food dominance.

It is a powerful case study in long-term metabolic risk.

Explore Full Atlas of the Global Metabolic Crisis