Common diabetes myths busted!

Its  a monster! One of the great terrorists we face in Nigeria today, no I am not talking about Boko Haram! I am talking about diabetes. A disease generally unknown to us a generation ago has become an epidemic and it is growing by day. No one has accurate statistics, but if we go by anecdotal evidence, almost every family in Nigeria has one person or more who is either diabetic or prediabetic.

Like all monsters, diabetes has generated its own fair share of myths, legends and half truths. There is so much information and misinformation about the nature, cause and effects of diabetes that it becomes really difficult to know what to believe, this has inspired me to do some digging around to help you sort fact from fiction about the disease. Please read the following myths about the disease, it will help increase your knowledge on diabetes and hopefully help you make informed health and lifestyle choices and lead a happier and healthy life.

Happy reading, and do have a wonderful day.

Myth #1: People with diabetes can't eat anything sweet.

Despite what you may have heard, a piece of cake or a couple of biscuits won't cause a health crisis. In fact, sweets can be eaten in moderation by people with type 2 diabetes, if eaten as part of a healthy meal plan and combined with exercise, according to the American Diabetes Association.

Still, while avoiding sweet treats isn't mandatory, limiting them is. Sweets often contain not only empty calories but a lot of sugar, a carbohydrate that raises glucose levels considerably. For better glucose control, diabetics should have dessert only after a low-carb meal. It's important to eat that chicken breast, beans, brown rice and salad before digging into that ice cream.

Myth #2: Eating too much sugar causes diabetes.

No, chocolate lovers are not destined to develop diabetes. The disease is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors. And the high level of sugar in someone's bloodstream is not the same thing as the refined one you buy. That said, being overweight can increase the risk for developing type 2 diabetes, and eating a lot of sugar can pack on the pounds. If your family has a history of diabetes, eating healthfully and exercising regularly is recommended to keep everyone's weight in check.

Myth #3: People with diabetes must eat a special diet.

A healthy diet for someone with diabetes is the same as a healthy diet for anyone else. What does that entail? A wholesome meal plan is based on whole-grain foods, lean protein, vegetables, and fruit. Such a diet is low in fat, salt, and simple sugars. Beware, So-called diabetic foods offer no special benefits. Just make sure you eat a balanced healthy diet, with moderate portions.

Myth #4: You can catch diabetes from someone else.

Diabetes is not an infectious or contagious disease. Scientists don't know for sure exactly what causes the disorder, but it can't be caught from another person, like a cold or the flu. There, does, however, appear to be a genetic link with type 2 diabetes: If a family member has the condition, you're at higher risk for the disease.

Myth #5: There are only two types of diabetes

Not so. Diabetes refers to a group of diseases all of which require serious attention that have in common the body's inability to properly convert glucose from food into energy, leading to a high level of sugar in the blood. The main kinds include type 1 (formerly known as juvenile-onset diabetes), type 2 (once called adult-onset diabetes), and gestational (which occurs only during pregnancy). The suspected causes differ for each type, but managing any type of diabetes requires balancing food, physical activity, and, if needed, medications. And while people with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day for their entire lives, type 2 diabetes is no less of a concern, because ignoring it could lead to devastating complications such as blindness, heart attack, and stroke.

Myth #6: Only overweight people get diabetes

While it is true that many people who have type 2 diabetes carry excess pounds, and some are obese, there are also others especially elderly people with the condition who aren't particularly overweight. If you or a person you know with diabetes needs to shed some weight, it may be motivating to learn that even modest weight loss through healthier eating and increased activity can help keep long-term complications at bay. But diabetes doesn't discriminate: Even Slim people can succumb to the disease.

Myth #7: People with diabetes shouldn't exercise

The exact opposite is true: Exercise is a key component of any diabetes treatment plan, as it helps diabetics’ better use insulin and lower or maintain weight. Unfortunately, exercise is often the most overlooked weapon in the arsenal against this monster. Physical activity of some sort, and this doesn't have to mean working out at a gym, should be done regularly by everyone with diabetes, regardless of age, unless the person suffers from a severe disability.

Myth #8: People diagnosed with diabetes are doomed

This is not true; in fact it’s very far from the truth. While it's true that diabetes is a long-term disease without a cure and that diabetics might experience some pretty nasty complications if their blood sugar levels are allowed to soar sky-high for years, they can avoid that fate.

Many people can and do lead busy, active, spontaneous lives while also managing their type 2 diabetes. A diabetes diagnosis alone doesn't rule out travel, having fun, or partaking in many common pastimes or pursuits. Simply put, they must follow their treatment regimen, plan ahead, and take extra precautions when necessary, such as checking blood sugar more often if they're traveling across the country, or packing the right foods if they're taking a long car trip. It's possible to live a full and fulfilling life even with a diabetes diagnosis.