The truth about diabetes

Many myths abound when it comes to diabetes.  Not having facts straight about this disease can make it hard for people to know what is true and what is not.  The hard truth is that diabetes is a serious and potentially deadly disease.  Sorting out the facts can make it easier for a person to know how to take better care of themselves and more importantly, avoid it all together to begin with.

MYTH:  Diabetes is really not that serious of a disease

FACT: Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.  Having diabetes puts a person at a higher risk of many complications that can be deadly.  For instance, once a person is told “You have diabetes,” their chance of having a heart attack doubles.  They are also at a greater risk for hypoglycemia, hypertension, dyslipidemia, stroke, eye problems and blindness, kidney disease, amputations and neuropathy.

MYTH: All overweight or obese people will eventually develop type 2 diabetes.

FACT:  Not all overweight to obese people will develop diabetes even though carrying excess weight does place a person at an increased risk for the disease.   But other risk factors are involved too.  Family history, age, and ethnicity can also be players in someone developing diabetes. 

MYTH:  Excessive intake of sugar causes diabetes

FACT:  This fact on this is not as clear.  Type 2 diabetes is caused by a combination of genetics and lifestyle factors.  One of them is being overweight to obese – it’s possible that if the cause of a person’s excessive weight gain is due to consumption of too many calories coming from sugary foods, than it could be a contributing factor.  But it is not the only factor involved in the development of diabetes.

It is advisable for all of us to limit our intake of sugary foods and beverages such as regular soda, fruit punch, fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, sweet tea and other sugary drinks.  Taking in too much sugar will raise blood glucose and adds too many empty calories to the diet.

MYTH:  People with diabetes have to eat special diabetic foods

FACT:  A person who has diabetes does not have to eat any type of special food different from someone who does not have diabetes.  A healthy meal plan is what is recommended just like it is for anyone without diabetes.  In fact, the way someone with diabetes is supposed to eat is the way the rest of us who do not have diabetes should be eating too.

MYTH:  People with diabetes cannot have any desserts or chocolate

FACT:  Not true.  People with diabetes just need to have smaller portion sizes and save them for special occasions.  If they plan ahead and make the dessert or sweet a part of their meal plan and combine it with exercise, they can fit in occasionally a sweet now and then.  There are no foods that are “off limits” for someone with diabetes, they just have to plan ahead for them.

MYTH:  People with diabetes get sick more often with colds and other illnesses

FACT: Just like the rest of us, someone with diabetes is no more likely to become ill with a cold or flu because of their disease.  It is advisable for them, like the rest of us too, to get a flu shot and to take good care of themselves by eating a healthy diet, exercising and getting plenty of rest.

MYTH: If someone with type 2 diabetes is told they need to start using insulin, they have failed to take good care of their condition

FACT: Diabetes is a progressive disease.  When first diagnosed, many with diabetes can control their condition by controlling their carbohydrate intake and getting regular physical exercise.  Oral medications can also be part of controlling blood glucose levels.  But as the years go by, sometimes the body gradually produces less insulin and the oral medications are unable to keep the blood glucose levels normal.  That may be when the doctor will recommend to add insulin to get and keep the blood glucose levels in a normal range in order to prevent serious health complications.