Diabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Diabetes is a complicated disease. If you have diabetes, or know anyone who has it, you may have questions about the disease. There are many popular myths about diabetes and its management. Here are some facts you should know about diabetes.
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Myths and misconceptions about diabetes can cause added anxiety and stress for people living with the condition. Here we debunk some common diabetes myths and offer advice on how to limit their impact on mental health.
As well as diabetes myths, you may be interested in these diabetes facts.
Diabetes is on the rise worldwide, and is a serious, lifelong disease that can lead to heart disease, stroke, and lasting nerve, eye and foot problems. Let’s talk about diabetes and the difference between the three types of diabetes. So, what exactly is diabetes and where does it come from? An organ in your body called the pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that controls the levels of your blood sugar.
When you have too little insulin in your body, or when insulin doesn’t work right in your body, you can have diabetes, the condition where you have abnormally high glucose or sugar levels in your blood. Normally when you eat food, glucose enters your bloodstream.
Glucose is your body’s source of fuel. Your pancreas makes insulin to move glucose from your bloodstream into muscle, fat, and liver cells, where your body turns it into energy. Due to the body’s inability to move glucose into fat, liver, and muscle cells for conversion and storage as energy, diabetics have a lot of glucose.
Do you frequently find yourself perplexed by cliches like “whether eating an excessive amount of sweets causes diabetes”? People due to a misconception about many things lead others in the wrong way. But that cannot be right you know? People often say that eating this food will cure diabetes, but this is completely false. No food can cure you of diabetes, as it may only give some protection to you or help to stabilize your metabolic systems.
For people with diabetes, in particular, stress is a health risk. For example, recent research finds that those living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are at significantly greater risk of mental health issues like depression. Other research points to a “bi-directional” relationship between diabetes and depression.
“That means that not only are people with diabetes more likely to have depression, but having depression can make it harder to manage the disease and stay on top of lifestyle habits and taking medication,” said Dr. Karl Nadolsky, an endocrinologist at Holland Hospital in Michigan. “That increases the risk of diabetes complications.”
Managing day-to-day life as someone living with diabetes brings unique added stressors. Of course, there’s the extra mental load of worrying about your blood sugar and diet. But less talked about is the persistence of myths among friends and family: like the idea that diabetes is purely a result of lifestyle choices or that taking insulin means you’ve “failed.”
“The potential embarrassment, shame, or stigma associated with diabetes may in turn negatively affect one’s mental health,” said Dr. Lesley Johnson, an assistant professor at Emory University and MQ Mental Health research fellow who studies depression and diabetes. “Especially when it’s internalized, and individuals feel it’s their burden to bear alone.”
Busting myths about diabetes shouldn’t only be on the shoulders of people with the condition. However, knowing about them – and how to manage them – can help limit their impact on your mental health.
Here are some common myths about diabetes management:
Eating sugar causes diabetes:
While eating too much sugar can contribute to weight gain, which is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. It does not directly cause diabetes.
People with diabetes can’t eat sweets:
People with diabetes can still enjoy sweets in moderation as part of a healthy meal plan.
Insulin use means poor diabetes management:
Insulin is a common treatment for diabetes and does not indicate poor management of the disease.
Herbal treatments can cure diabetes:
There is no cure for diabetes, and while some herbal treatments may help manage symptoms, they cannot cure the disease.
People with diabetes need special foods:
People with diabetes can eat a healthy, balanced diet like anyone else and do not need special “diabetes-friendly” foods.
Diabetes is not a serious disease:
If not properly managed, diabetes could be a serious condition. It can result in complications such as blindness, amputations, and heart disease.
While obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, people of any weight can develop the disease.
Diabetes is contagious: Diabetes is not contagious and cannot be passed from person to person like a virus or bacteria.
It’s important to separate fact from fiction when it comes to managing diabetes. Working with a healthcare team and following a personalized diabetes management plan can help reduce the risk of complications and improve overall health.
I hope this helps dispel some of the myths you have heard about diabetes and controlling diabetes. Remember, knowledge is power. The more you learn about diabetes, the better off you’ll be. If you have not attended a diabetes education program consider doing so. Got it? We are sure there are many more in your mind. So quickly send your doubts to us and here we are to help you out.