8 Myths about Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that is gaining traction in many developed countries, particularly in the United States. Not only is this disease passed down from parents to children, but it can also be acquired as a result of poor life choices. There is a lot of false information about diabetes that is floating around the internet, which is why we have decided to shed some light onto this problem.
Myth #1: You can get diabetes by eating too much sugar.
Well, it is only partially a myth. Though eating too much sugar cannot cause diabetes, it does cause obesity. Obesity, on the other hand, is one of the leading causes of Type 2 diabetes. This especially concerns people who tend to accumulate fat on their waist rather than thighs. This kind of obesity is called ‘central obesity’ and it is one of the leading causes of the metabolic syndrome, which, in turn, results in diabetes.
Myth #2: Diabetes is a death sentence.
Diabetes is a death sentence only if the person decides to do nothing about it. This especially concerns people with Type 1 diabetes, as its consequences are much more severe. Quite often, people choose not to take sugar-lowering drugs because of their price. However, this can be circumvented by buying generic medications online that are many times cheaper than their brand-name counterparts. By changing your lifestyle and taking all the necessary drugs, people with diabetes can live a long, fulfilling life.
Myth #3: If you have diabetes, you shouldn’t lead an active lifestyle.
It is actually the opposite. People with diabetes should lead an active life because it was their sedentary lifestyle that caused diabetes in the first place. Thus, if you were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, then it’s high time to start jogging every morning. This way you’ll be literally running away from death.
Myth #4: Insulin can harm you.
This myth originates from the time when insulin had adverse effects since it was extracted from animals. Thankfully, animal-sourced insulin has been replaced by biosynthetic and recombinant insulin, which is completely compatible with the human body.
Myth #5: Diabetes is a disease during which your body doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This is only half true. Type 1 diabetes is a condition during which a person’s pancreas cannot produce sufficient amounts of insulin. People with Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, have more than enough insulin in their system. Their tissues, however, are resistant to insulin, which causes blood sugar levels to rise uncontrollably.
Myth #6: “I can feel when my sugar is high or low.”
People actually can feel when their sugar is too low, as they get nauseous, dizzy, and close to passing out. But it is impossible to ‘feel’ when your blood sugar is too high. The only feeling that you get while your blood sugar levels are shooting through the roof is thirst.
Myth #7: People with diabetes can’t eat sweets
There are many sweets designs specifically for people with diabetes. Diabetic candy usually has saccharine or fructose that are used to replace regular sugar. Keep in mind though that it is best to avoid sweets that contain fructose, since they are usually very calorie-dense and, most likely, fructose was one of the main culprits that caused your diabetes in the first place.
Myth #8: You aren’t taking good care of your diabetes if you were put on insulin
Because people with Type 1 diabetes cannot produce enough insulin on their own, it is mandatory for them to make insulin injections to survive. There is simply no other way. People with Type 2 diabetes are also encouraged by My Canadian Pharmacy RX officials to make insulin injections if they are resistant to sugar-lowering drugs.
