Thursday, September 30, 2010

What Are the Common Diabetes Misconceptions and Myths?

Diabetes is a life-long metabolism disorder where the body is unable to produce or manage insulin in the body. There are two types of diabetes, namely type 1 where the body is unable to produce insulin and type 2 where the body either does not produce enough insulin or the body cells simply ignore the insulin. Although diabetes affects up to 20 millions Americans today, there are still many misconceptions about the condition to be discussed in this article.

The first myth is that if you are overweight, you will eventually get diabetes. There is some truth in it since obese people are predisposed to Type 2 Diabetes. To say that an overweight person will be diabetic is not accurate at all. There have to be other factors playing for diabetes to be acquired as there are many people who are overweight and with very healthy blood sugar levels.

Diabetes is not contagious. Simply having a family member with it or interacting with diabetics for a long time will not 'transmit' the condition to you. On the other hand, diabetes can be inherited, especially if you have family history of diabetes. The likelihood of this happening is not high all the time, especially if your parents are free of diabetes.

Eating too much sugar causes diabetes. Perhaps this is one of the most widely known myths about the condition. Saying that someone with a sweet tooth will get diabetes is like saying someone with a backache will get arthritis; it's just plainly inaccurate. Stuffing on cakes will make you gain weight but not give you diabetes. Diabetes is caused by genetics mostly, and some unhealthy lifestyle choices like regular consumption of saturated fats. Even people with diabetes can enjoy something sweet every now and then, though not with as much freedom.

People with diabetes can't digest and eat foods high in carbohydrates. The truth is everyone needs to have carbohydrates intake as our body needs them and having a blood sugar problem does not mean you can't take carbohydrates. They simply need to adjust their servings, and include plenty of vegetables and fruits for fiber. In fact, some diabetic diets emphasize on the intake of carbohydrates.

If you are taking insulin shots, or some associated medications, it is a go-ahead for you to eat anything you want. This is totally a misconception as these insulin shots are only supposed to give your body more edge in keeping blood sugar levels at optimal ranges. If you decide to snack on junk food, and eat too many carbohydrates and sugars, you are adding insult to injury and the medications will not prevent your blood sugar levels from constantly rising.

Diabetes can be treated completely or you only have a little diabetes. If your symptoms are not serious, it does not necessary mean that your diabetes is going into remission. Once you are diagnosed with diabetes, it won't go away as it doesn't have a cure. But diabetes is a manageable disease and as long as you keep your diet in check, exercise regularly and keep a happy lifestyle, then it will never be a problem for you.

These are only a few misconceptions about diabetes and the list is actually longer. If you are unsure of your diabetic condition, be sure to consult a doctor and seek professional advice.

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