DIABETES – MYTHS Vs. FACTS

We all know that there are a lot of old wives' tales (myths) and facts concerning diabetes out there. Scouring the internet for specific and reliable information about the best diet for diabetes may leave you feeling confused. Diabetes, with its chronic and long term complications along with other myriad of disorders associated with the illness, is the major health jeopardy. While there is no shortage of advice, it has often become challenging to discern fact (reality) from fiction (myth).

1. MYTH: "Eating sugar causes diabetes".

- FACT: Eating sugar does not directly cause diabetes. However, consuming a sugary diet can lead to overweight and obesity, which are risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Although this is a common myth, perhaps understandably that blood sugar levels play an essential role in diabetes, however, sugar itself is not a causal factor. For example, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), eating too much sugar alone does not cause diabetes but it may be a contributing factor in some cases. Additionally, Type 1 Diabetes is typically caused when an environmental trigger provokes a genetic predisposition for diabetes to express itself, whereas Type 2 Diabetes is often triggered by various risk factors including genetics and certain lifestyle choices.

2. MYTH: "Diabetes is not a serious disease".

- FACT: A series of complications such as cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, kidney stones, blindness, skin conditions, and hearing impairment are due to diabetes. In the year of 2018, for instance, diabetes was the underlying cause of 84,946 mortalities in the U.S. The World Health Organization, in fact, estimated that diabetes caused the death of 1.6 million people in 2016.

3. MYTH: "You can eat whatever you want during your medication".

- FACT: Taking diabetes medication is not a ticket to eat whatever you want or as often as you want. Taking your medication as prescribed is as important as adhering to a nutrient-dense diet. This is because following a diet that is rich in produce, lean meats, and complex carbs not only helps you manage your diabetes in the long term, but it can also help you manage other chronic conditions that could develop along with diabetes such as cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure.

4. MYTH: "Fats do not matter".

- FACT: According to the American Heart Association, having Type 2 Diabetes increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. Part of this connection is due to the fact that many people with diabetes are also living with extra weight and often have high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels. In order to lower your risk of heart issues, avoid trans-fats when possible and limit saturated fat in your diet. Eating a lot of foods that are rich in saturated fats such as high-fat dairy products and fried items can increase your unhealthy cholesterol levels and raise your risk of heart disease and stroke.

5. MYTH: "Amputation is inevitable for diabetic people".

- FACT: When poorly controlled, diabetes can lead to blood vessel damage in the long run, which in turn leads to complications such as foot ulcers, amputation, nerve damage, blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, and even stroke. However, such complications are avoidable if diabetes is properly managed. For this reason, it is important for diabetic patients to go for regular screenings of their feet, eyes and kidneys to monitor for the above-mentioned complications.