Diabetes: 10 Common Myths

Here 10 common myths about diabetes are debunked.

#1. I can catch diabetes from someone else

Diabetes is not contagious. Some people are genetically predisposed to getting diabetes, particularly Type 2 diabetes, if there is a history of it in the family. Lifestyle factors also play a part.

# 2. Eating too much sugar causes diabetes.

At one time, type 2 diabetes was commonly known as “sugar diabetes”, from which sprang the notion that eating too much sugar caused diabetes. This is not true. Diabetes is caused by a combination of inherited and lifestyle factors. However, you will become overweight, or even obese, if you have a diet that is high in fat and sugar. Being overweight increases your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

# 3. Type 2 diabetes is mild diabetes.

There is no such thing as mild diabetes. Diabetes is a serious condition which, if not properly controlled, can lead to serious complications.

#4. People with diabetes eventually go blind.

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in people of working age. But that does not mean every diabetic will lose their sight. Taking the following action will greatly reduce the risk of developing diabetes complications:

• Control your blood pressure and glucose levels;
• Take regular exercise;
• Avoid being over weight; and 
• Stop smoking

# 5. It's not safe to drive if you have diabetes.

Providing you are responsible and have good control of your diabetes, diabetics are no less safe on the roads than anyone else.

# 6. People with diabetes can't play sports.

Many people with diabetes take part in active sports. People with diabetes are encouraged to exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle. Keeping active can help avoid complications associated with diabetes, such as heart disease.

# 7. People with diabetes are more likely to get colds and other illnesses.

You are no more likely to get a cold or another illness if you've got diabetes. However, people with diabetes are advised to get flu vaccinations. This is because any infection interferes with your blood glucose control and puts you at risk of having high blood glucose levels.

# 8. People with diabetes can't eat sweets or chocolate.

Sweets and chocolate can be eaten by people with diabetes just the same as anyone else. Confectionery foods tend to be high in fat and calories. For this reason their consumption should be limited.

# 9. People with diabetes shouldn't eat bananas or grapes.

All fruit and vegetables are very good for you and should form part of your healthy, balanced diet. Eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and some cancers. Eating a variety of different fruits and vegetables ensures that you get the maximum benefit as well as sufficient dietary fibre.

#10 .People with diabetes should eat special diabetic foods.

A healthy diet for people with diabetes is the same as that recommended for everyone - low in fat, salt and sugar, with meals including starchy foods like whole grain bread and pasta, a portion of oily fish and one portion of white fish per week and at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. 

You can get more information about treating diabetes here.

Diabetes - Take Back Control of Your Life

by Robert Reddin

Diabetes is said to be the fastest growing "disease" in the World today, particularly in the "Western" World. We all know someone who has diabetes. It may be a loved one, a work colleague or a friend. Indeed, so wide spread has diabetes become that is becoming accepted part of the natural progression of life.

Some people are genetically predisposed to developing diabetes, but current research suggests that those sufferers who are not so predisposed are the architects of their own misfortune.

Risk factors
It is now recognized that lifestyle and diet are important risk factors in the development of diabetes, particularly type II diabetes. The statistics from a century ago show a much lower incidence of diabetes in the population. This can be attributed to the more active lifestyle of the time - the automobile was still a novelty; and diet. Whole grain foods, fresh fruit and vegetables formed a greater part of the diet one hundred years than they do today. There was also far less processed food and saturated fats in the diet then than there is now.

Our modern "Western" dietary habits and lifestyle are primarily responsible for the diabetes epidemic. We are literally eating ourselves into an early grave.

Research has also shown that obesity is a contributing factor for the on set of type II diabetes. There are about 24 million people in the United States, or 8% of the population, who have been diagnosed as having diabetes. It is estimated that many more than this have undiagnosed diabetes.

Diabetes is a symptom not a disease
In reality, Diabetes is not a "disease" at all. It is a symptom of a pancreas that is too damaged to produce the insulin your body needs!

Doctors tell you that when you have diabetes, it is because your pancreas is not producing enough insulin or produces none at all. That is correct but fails to answer the question why it is that your pancreas is not producing enough insulin.

Scientists have established that the root cause of diabetes is when the pancreas becomes diseased by acids, sugars, carbohydrates, excess fats and uric acid - all of which are very common in our modern "Western" dietary habits.

Tackling the root causes of diabetes can stabilize your condition and then slowly reverse it as your pancreas gradually recovers. The good news is that this is not difficult to do and only requires small adjustments to our dietary habits and lifestyle.

How may this be achieved?

A healthy diet
The first step is to tackle your poor diet.

Replace the high fat processed foods with a balanced diet. A diet for people with diabetes should be low in fat (especially saturated fat and trans fats), moderate in salt and sugar, with meals based on whole grain foods, vegetables and fruit. Try to eat five portions of different fresh fruits and vegetables each day.

Diabetes sufferers who practice food combining have reported significant progress in stabilizing and then starting to reverse the effects of their condition.

Take moderate exercise
The second step is to start a moderate exercise routine.

According to the US Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), while some medications may delay the development of diabetes, diet and exercise work better. The DPP also found that in addition to a healthy diet, just 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day coupled with a 5-10% reduction in body weight resulted in a 58% reduction in diabetes.

There is no need to go to the expense of joining a gym or buying any exercise equipment. Swimming or walking at a brisk pace is adequate exercise. The key point is to elevate your heart rate slightly for 20 to 30 minutes while you exercise. Introduce variation into your exercise routine, that way you will not get bored with it and the effects on your diabetes condition will be more noticeable.

Take responsibility
You can turn your condition around, but you must:

1. recognize that your condition is probably the result of your poor dietary habits and lifestyle choices; and
2. take responsibility for the dietary and lifestyle choices that you make.

You only have one life. Make the most of the one that you have as you will not pass this way again.

You can get more information on treating diabetes here.

Robert Reddin is a writer with more than 7 years experience and has numerous off-line and on-line articles to his credit. His interest in diabetes arose when a close family member was diagnosed with the condition. There is more information on treating diabetes here

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