Living with diabetes can be hard for most people, and the amount of information floating around the Internet about how to deal with it can be staggering and confusing. So much information about diabetes has been passed around over the years, which is why it is not surprising for false information to be taken as truth.
But what are the most common myths about diabetes? Let’s go through each and expose the truth behind them.
1. Myth: Being overweight or obese will lead to Type 2 Diabetes.
It is a common misconception that being overweight causes people to develop Type 2 diabetes. Being overweight or obese is indeed a risk factor, but we should also consider other factors like family history, age, and dietary intake. Most overweight people never develop Type 2 diabetes and a lot of people who do have it have normal or moderate weight. Ethnicity also plays a role in this, as people who are of South Asian, Chinese, and African descent are known to be more susceptible to develop Type 2 Diabetes. Here’s a good infographics about diabetes around the world:
2. Myth: I can never eat sweets again.
While it is true that people who are suffering from diabetes should generally avoid eating things that raise their blood sugar level, carefully planning your diet will allow you to still enjoy sweets. The key here is to count your carb intake. Carbohydrates are broken down by your body into sugar, which in turn raises your blood sugar level. Counting carbohydrates will give you a good idea if it is still okay to eat something that you like. It would be best to consult a dietitian to plan your food intake.
Pro Tip: Check this cool calorie counting app from Fitness Pal. It’s the fastest, easiest to use calorie counter app.
3. Myth: I can keep eating fruits because they are healthy and good for my body.
While fruits are indeed healthy and a key component for any diet, they also contain carbohydrates. Carbohydrates, as mentioned earlier, will raise your blood sugar level and will speed up the progress of Type 2 diabetes. Since fruits contain carbs, they need to be included in your meal planning. Consult your dietitian about fruits and how you can fit them into your diet.
4. Myth: You don’t need to take diabetes seriously.
People who are suffering from Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can avoid serious complications like stroke, kidney failure, heart diseases, eye damage, foot ulcers, and many others if they manage their medication and lifestyles properly. Diabetes is a serious condition and a lot of people die from it every year. In fact, diabetes causes more deaths in a year than breast cancer and AIDS combined. Its complications do not show up right away and that is why some people do not take diabetes seriously. Carefully managing it is the key to saving yourself from a lot of pain later in life.
A combination of factors
Naturally, widespread diseases also attract widespread rumors and myths. The same myths that could be deadly depending on the circumstances. People need to understand that being overweight is not the sole factor for developing diabetes and contracting its complications. There are a lot more factors involved. Same with actually being free from diabetes, it takes more than your medications of your food supplements for diabetes to treat it.
Also, careful research and consultation with experts will allow you to live with diabetes comfortably without restricting yourself too much. Knowing more about diabetes and your body will lead to a better lifestyle.
