Diabetes

7 Myths and truths about diabetes

Every day there are more people who have diabetes, a disease that suffer 442 million people worldwide according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It is therefore important that we stay informed about what is this disease and how to prevent it. But it is also keep in mind what are the myths and truths about this disease, to avoid falling into errors or panic in case of suffering.

truths about diabetes

Myth 1: Diabetes is a mild disease

It is not the truth. Of course, you can have a normal life with diabetes if you control and maintain an adequate living with the disease, but the reality is that diabetes causes more deaths each year than breast cancer and AIDS together. In fact, the WHO predicted that in 2030 it will be the seventh leading cause of death worldwide. It is a serious condition that must be treated and patients should accept it and adapt their lifestyle to the disease, but also there is no need to be alarmed, because it is treatable and controllable.

Myth 2: Only obese people have type 2 diabetes

Obesity is a risk factor for diabetes, but it is neither the only nor this means that all obese people suffering from diabetes. There are other factors, such as snuff, the lack of exercise, family history or age. A person who does not take these risk factors into account and does not look after can go so far as to develop type 2 diabetes although they are thin. As for type 1 diabetes, it is still unclear what the risk factors are; it is thought that are genetic although it is still not accepted in the scientific community.

Myth 3: Consuming lots of sugar causes diabetes

This myth is neither true nor false; it is a bit more complex. A diet in which the sugars and carbohydrates are the essential foodstuffs can be a risk factor for diabetes, but give you a binge of chocolate or in the sporadic day if a healthy diet is supported; in principle should not be a risk factor for developing the illness. Of course, do not think that you can do it whenever you want, in general, your body can be damaged a lot with excessive rises of sugar.

Usually, it is not advisable to take sugary soft drinks daily because its high sugar content increases the risk of diabetes by 22%, and control fruit juices, sweets and foods with refined carbohydrates. Ideally, you have a healthy diet as recommended by most nutrition experts, based on intake of vitamins and minerals that the vegetables offer, proteins and good fats that you acquire in the fish, meat and dried fruit, moderate consumption of salt and sugar and fiber you get from whole grains.

Myth 4: People with diabetes cannot eat candy or chocolates

Everything depends on the type of diabetes and how developed the disease is, but in general, people with diabetes can eat sweets and chocolate, as long as the amount thereof is adapted to your eating plan, which must be strictly followed to maintain the controlled disease. That is to say, are not entirely prohibited but you cannot eat whenever you want, but in a controlled manner by a medical professional.

Myth 5: You can eat all the fruit you want because it is a healthy food

Although the fruit contains fiber, vitamins and minerals, it also contains a lot of carbohydrates that turn into sugar in the blood, so it should be counted in the daily planning your diet. Some fruits have more sugar than others, and the ideal is that if you suffer diabetes consult with a nutritionist or doctor about fruits you should avoid. If you do not suffer, it is important that you also moderate your consumption, especially the fruit with the highest glycemic index.

Myth 6: A scare can lead to diabetes

Scared or extreme situation of anger, makes your body generates adrenaline that causes sugar levels to spike for a short time, but that does not mean that a shock may eventually develop diabetes.

Myth 7: Insulin may leave you blind

It is not the insulin that could affect your sight, but poor control of blood glucose over a long period of time. If your diabetes is fully controlled and you have an adequate rhythm of life, exercise and control your diet, your visual health will be too. WHO recommended visual checkups for people with diabetes, but also ensures that blindness is a result of diabetes if not controlled and complications occur.