10 Myths And Facts You Need to Know About…Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that affects 30.3 million people, with numbers steadily rising. Yet, although awareness of this dangerous condition is increasing, as many as 7.2 million Americans with diabetes remain undiagnosed. These figures are worrying and bring into question what do we really know about this life altering disease?

Knowing how to correctly manage being a diabetic can have a huge impact of your health and well being. Yet with so much information out there, it can be hard to separate Myth from Fact.

Unreliable and conflicting information can be very dangerous to your health, which why I have set out to give you the Facts and vanquish the Myths.

Myth #1-People With Diabetes Should Restrict Their Diet

Fact- As with anything, what you put into your body will ultimately have an impact on your health. However, just because you are diabetic doesn’t necessarily mean you should have a restrictive diet. A healthy and nutritious diet, yes. But it does not have to be so painfully restrictive that you start drooling about forbidden foods!

It is recommended for diabetics to eat starchy foods such as whole grain bread, wholewheat pasta and brown or wild rice. These types of starchy foods contain more fibre, which helps to slow down the absorption of sugar in the colon. Protein is also an important aspect in helping to balance blood sugar levels and can help to reduce cravings. Good sources of protein consist of beans, nuts and seeds. In relation yo weight loss, smaller portion sizes will be required, as losing excess body fat is critical for controlling blood sugar levels.

Myth #2-Diabetes Is Caused By Overloading On Sugar

Fact- In reality it’s not as clear cut as that, so don’t start panicking about your chocolate cravings just yet!  

There are two types of diabetes:

Type 1: is a serious condition whereby your body is unable to make insulin because your blood glucose levels are too high. It is an autoimmune condition, meaning that your immune system thinks that the cells in your pancreas are harmful and so attacks them. This damages them and as a result stops them from producing insulin. It is thought that Type 1 diabetes is caused by genetics. If you have a close relative – such as a parent, brother or sister – with type 1 diabetes, you have about a 6% chance of also developing the condition.

Type 2: occurs when our cells in our body become resistant to the action of insulin and the pancreas cannot product enough insulin to bring blood sugar levels back to normal. As a result, the glucose in the body is not used up for energy but stays in the blood. This type of diabetes is associated with lifestyle and factors such as obesity levels.

Myth #3-Chocolates And Sweets Are A Big No Go 

Fact- Many people diagnosed with diabetes may be thinking their days in indulging in a sweet treat are over. Well this might not be true. If consumed as part of a healthy diet and combined with physical activity, a treat now and then isn’t off limits. The key to this, especially when you are diabetic is to indulge in small portions and save them for special occasions. Chocolate will cause your blood levels to rise, which is why it should be eaten in moderation. Dark chocolate is usually a better option as it is higher in cocoa solids and has less sugar.

Myth #4-Artificial Sugar Is A Healthier Option 

Fact- The fact that artificial sweeteners and sugars are portrayed as a healthy alternative to sugar makes them even more dangerous. The health conscious may think they are making a good decision swapping their spoonful of sugar for splenda, but in reality this could be far from the truth. Here’s one example; Sucralose (sold as Splenda) is 600 times sweeter than sugar. Shocking right? So for those who are diabetic, be aware of artificial sugar and do not use it as a substitute. Natural sweeteners such as stevia and monk fruit are a healthier alternative.

Myth #5-People With Diabetes Shouldn’t Play Sport 

Fact- As with any person, exercising contributes to your overall health and boats a range of benefits. This is especially relevant for people with diabetes. Exercise is a great way of controlling blood sugar, weight and blood pressure. It can also reduce the risk of developing common diabetes complications such as heart disease. That being said, it should be noted that exercise can sometimes lower blood sugar, which can cause hypoglycemia. To prevent this occurring, stay hydrated, don’t exercise on an empty stomach and have a snack ready in case you start to feel weak and shaky. Talk to your doctor about checking your blood sugar before and after exercise as a precaution, but other than that, enjoy and partake in exercise.

Myth #6-People With Diabetes Are Dangerous Drivers 

Fact- Yes one of the conditions that people with diabetes can suffer is blurred vision. This is as a result of Hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar. Low blood sugar can result in a number of symptoms such as hunger, fatigue and shakiness. However, this does not mean people with diabetes are dangerous drivers.  Low blood sugar is preventable and the majority of people with diabetes at risk of hypoglycemia exercise extreme care to avoid this condition when driving. Statistics show that diabetics are no less safe on the road than anyone else, with significant accidents being attributed to hypoglycemia affecting less 0.2% of drivers treated with insulin.

Myth #7-Diabetes Is Easy To Diagnose

Fact- Even if you know the symptoms of diabetes, it does not necessarily mean that you will be able to diagnose it. Many people have diabetes and do not even realise it. As many as 7.2 million Americans with diabetes remain undiagnosed. Type 2 diabetes can be particularly hard to diagnose as the symptoms develop gradually and can be so mild that they go unnoticed.   Some symptoms include urinating often , feeling hungry and thirsty, blurry vision, fatigue and cuts and bruises that heal slowly.

Myth #8-People With Diabetes Should Avoid Fruit 

Fact: People with diabetes are often told that they should avoid fruit. However, this is not strictly true. Fruit and vegetables are excellent sources of vitamins, minerals and fibre. Yes they do contain natural sugar, which makes blood sugar levels rise. Yet, most fruits have low to medium glycaemic index, so they do not lead to a sharp rise in your blood glucose levels compared to other carbohydrate containing foods like white or wholemeal bread. That being said, it is best to avoid fruit juices and smoothies, which have fewer nutritional benefits and are higher in sugar.

Myth #9-People With Diabetes Are More Likely To Get Sick 

Fact: It is commonly believed that people with diabetes are more prone to colds and flu’s. However, people with diabetes are no more likely to get ill than anyone else. The issue with contracting an illness is that it can make managing blood sugar levels more difficult than normal and increase the severity of the illness.

Myth #10-Type 2 Diabetes Is Irreversible 

Fact: It is widely believed that Type 2 diabetes cannot be reversed. This is a Myth, The Big Pharma companies make a $245 billion a year profit from the disease. As such, they do not want the disease defeated. Studies are showing that Type 2 diabetes is in fact reversible, and I myself know this to be true. How do I know this you might ask? Well, the truth is that I had Type 2 diabetes and managed to overcome it.  I had Doctors trying to get me to use dangerous drugs with harmful side effects, but I refused them. Instead I found a natural solution.  Click on the button below to find out how to how you can beat diabetes naturally without harmful drugs or side effects within 90 days.