Firstly, sugar does not cause diabetes. It used to be called ‘sugar diabetes’ because people thought it was caused by eating too many sweet treats, but experts know now that diabetes is triggered by a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors. You’re more at risk of being overweight if you eat too much sugar, which then leads to diabetes, but sugar alone is not the cause. While we’re on the sweet stuff, another myth is that people with diabetes can’t eat any sweets or chocolate, which, as long as they are included as part of a healthy diet or exercise plan, is simply not true.
This leads on nicely to the lie that people with diabetes can only eat special diabetic foods, when in fact a healthy diet is the same for everyone – regardless of whether you have diabetes or not. Special diabetic versions of foods are often unbeneficial, still raise blood glucose levels, are expensive and sometimes work as a laxative, so you’re much better off eating a healthy diet which is low in saturated and trans fats, moderate in salt and sugar, with meals based on whole-grain foods, vegetables and fruit. Speaking of diet diabetes myths, there’s no truth in the adage that you have to stay away from starches if you have diabetes because a limited amount of 3-4 servings of carbohydrates daily can provide a good source of fibre, which helps keep your gastrointestinal system running smoothly.
Next, not all diabetics have to take insulin injections as those with type 2 diabetes generally have plenty of insulin, but their bodies don’t respond well to it. Most type 2 cases can be helped without medication, by losing weight, adopting a healthier diet, increasing exercise and other lifestyle changes. Type 2 diabetes is also not an adult-only problem, but up to 15% of children and teens have developed the disease in recent years. Finally, there’s a myth that type 2 diabetes only affects blood-sugar levels, which only decreases your energy, but it actually affects many different systems and organs of the body, and this can lead to stroke or heart disease, eye-conditions from dry eye to retinal disease, severe nerve damage that can necessitate lower-limb amputation, kidney failure and skin infections. The importance of education is obviously necessary to ensure you debunk these myths and get clued up on what diabetes really means for you.