'sugar-associated' originates from Modern English, specifically a compound of 'sugar' and 'associated', where 'sugar' ultimately comes from older words for the sweet crystalline substance and 'associate' comes from Latin roots meaning 'to join with'.

'sugar' came into English via Old French 'sucre' (from Latin/Medieval Latin 'succarum', from Arabic/Persian forms and ultimately Sanskrit 'śarkarā'); 'associate' comes from Latin 'associare' (ad- + socius 'companion') via Old French/Medieval Latin into English. The modern compound formed in English by joining these two existing words.

Initially the components meant 'sweet substance' (for 'sugar') and 'to join with/relate to' (for 'associate'); combined as a compound, the meaning has been straightforward and literal: 'connected with or related to sugar'.