Common Diabetes Myths – Part 2

The first part of the diabetes myths tackled the some of the common preconceived notions about diabetes and how it affects children. This article is a continuation of the dispelling of the different myths that people might have of the dreaded disease. Whatever myths that you are holding onto regarding diabetes, read on first. You might learn a thing or two about what the disease is really about.

Myth 1: If diabetics take insulin, their condition will be cured.

Taking insulin is only for maintenance. The insulin that a person takes does not cure him or her from the dreaded disease. It only keeps the person alive but it does not take away the disease. Even though research and discoveries regarding a cure for the disease has improved by leaps and bounds, a remedy for the disease remains undiscovered. So the myth that diabetics will soon be cured if they regularly take enough insulin is not true.

Myth 2: Diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar.

The increased consumption of sugar in one’s diet has not been scientifically proven to cause diabetes. Scientific evidence actually has determined that diets which are high in sugar do not directly cause diabetes. There are people who have had high-sugar diets whose blood sugar levels have remained the same.

The one thing that went through the roof was their insulin level. The person’s pancreas was overexerting itself to try and manage the person’s blood sugar at that level. Despite the sugar binge, the pancreas tried to cope with the increased sugar intake and the person’s blood sugar level stayed level.

One of the things that could be an indirect reaction to this is that, if a person would constantly tax their pancreas at that level, they might develop insulin resistance which will eventually result to them putting on weight.

Myth 3: If a person who has diabetes abides by a strict diet and exercise strategy while closely monitoring his or her blood sugar levels through daily multiple insulin injections, they will be able to have complete control over their blood sugar levels.

There are people who think that as long as they are able to strictly follow their strict low-sugar diets and continuously take in insulin, that they will be able to control their blood glucose levels. This is not entirely true.

While the most effective strategy to achieve and maintain a solid control of one’s blood sugar is through a good diet and a good exercise plan, this plan does not necessarily promise to deliver optimal results in controlling one’s blood sugar level.

There are several factors which may contribute to a spike in a person’s blood sugar level. Some of these are periods of growth, illnesses, hormone changes or increased stress levels. All of these contribute to the increase of one’s blood sugaar levels and may be the trigger for diabetes in a person.

These are just some of the myths that one should know about regarding the dreaded disease of diabetes. It is recommended that you consult with your doctor in order to get your facts straight and also have yourself checked if you are a candidate for this particular disease. After all, a ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease in which your body cannot properly store and use fuel for energy. The fuel that your body needs is called glucose. Glucose comes from foods such as breads, cereals, pasta, rice, potatoes, fruits and some vegetables. To use glucose, your body needs insulin. Insulin is made by a gland in your body called the pancreas.

You have diabetes because either:

• Your body makes too little or no insulin. This is called type 1 diabetes; or
• Your body can’t use the insulin it makes. This is called type 2 diabetes.

With little or no insulin, glucose builds up in your blood instead of being used for energy. This causes high blood glucose levels. When this happens, you may:

• Feel tired;
• Be thirsty;
• Urinate often
• Be hungry;
• Be moody.

You may also:

• Lose weight;
• Have blurry vision;
• Get infections Over the long term, abnormally high blood glucose levels can lead to conditions called either impaired glucose tolerance, impaired fasting glucose, or diabetes. These conditions, when left untreated, can lead to:
• kidney failure;
• heart disease;
• impotence;
• Blindness;
• amputation

Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, by keeping your blood glucose levels in a target range determined by your doctor, you can reduce your risk of complications and live a long and healthy life. Your doctor will tell you what type of diabetes you have and what you need to do.

Common Diabetes Myths – Part 1

The reality is that diabetes is something serious. It can be hard on the families because they are called to cope with an array of adjustments that will mostly be permanent for the rest of their lives.

It will only be appropriate for the diabetic or people who might get the disease to know and discover the facts behind the disease. There are different things that ever person should know regarding the disease and here are just some of the myths that this articles wishes to dispel:

Myth 1: Whatever a diabetic does to take care of his condition, if he or she has had diabetes for years, complications will ultimately happen.

The different mechanisms that causes complications in diabetics have not yet been understood. And what’s more is the degree to which they develop greatly differs from individual to individual. The only tried and tested method by which one can reduce the risk of developing complications is a rigid control of one’s sugar intake although this particular method still remains unpredictable. Research shows that there are some people who have a genetic predisposition towards complications of type 1 diabetes.

Myth 2: Diabetics cannot engage in exercise

Some people think that if you have diabetes, you are automatically forbidden to engage in athletics. Quite the contrary. The opposite is actually true. If a person has diabetes, it is very important that the person engages in regular exercises. The physical fitness of a person who has diabetes is very important and it has been known to help lower one’s blood sugar level and maintain them in the proper range.

History is littered with popular and timeless examples of people who have had tremendous success even though they were diagnosed as diabetics. A few examples of these people are Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer, Gary Hall and hockey legend Bobby Clarke. Therefore the myth that people with diabetes shouldn’t exercise at all does not have any truth with it.

Myth 3: Only children can have Type 1 Diabetes

Whoever said that children are the only ones which can have type 1 diabetes or "juvenile onset" diabetes did not have their facts straight. While it is true that juvenile diabetes is more commonly first diagnosed in young adults, children and teenagers, it is still possible that people may develop Type 1 diabetes at any age.

Myth 4: Children are unable to get Type 2 Diabetes

This is the myth at the other end of the spectrum of the above myth. Even though type 2 diabetes is ordinarily diagnosed in adults, a diabetes epidemic which is caused increased obesity have led to young adults and children under 10 years old having type 2 diabetes. However, the more regular form of diabetes that children will get is type 1 diabetes.

These are just some of the myths that most people know about this particular disease. It is important that people know the truth and get their facts straight so that they would be able to properly respond to the disease and act accordingly towards fighting it.

Eye Exams Can Provide Early Warnings of Diabetes

Do you know that diabetes can be detected even before the disease could completely take over your body? Ophthalmologists claim that a simple eye examination can detect early signs of diabetes.

The ophthalmologist examines your retina-the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye-and check for signs of bleeding outside of the blood vessels inside your eye, a sign of diabetic retinopathy. If left untreated, this damage could lead to permanent blindness.

However, a simple laser treatment may help prevent further loss of vision, although it cannot cure diabetic retinopathy completely. The laser travels through the eye and hits the retina, creating a minute amount of heat enough to cauterize the retina.

If your family has a history of diabetes or you are over 45 years of age, ophthalmologists recommend that you undergo a complete eye examination to look for signs of diabetic retinopathy.

Source: WCBD-TV