Myths about Diabetes
Today I decided to research myths about diabetes. I pulled these off the American Diabetic
Association webpage. (http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp).
Just thought I would share these since
so many people don’t realize that diabetics can lead a normal life and eat what
they want as long as you are careful.
Myth #1 You can catch diabetes from someone else.
No. Although we don’t know exactly why some people develop diabetes,
we know diabetes is not contagious. It can’t be caught like a cold or
flu. There seems to be some genetic link in diabetes, particularly type 2
diabetes. Lifestyle factors also play a part.
Myth #2 People with diabetes can't eat sweets or chocolate.
If eaten as part of a healthy meal plan, or combined with exercise, sweets
and desserts can be eaten by people with diabetes. They are no more “off
limits” to people with diabetes, than they are to people without
diabetes.
Myth #3 Eating too much sugar causes diabetes.
No. Diabetes is caused by a combination of genetic and lifestyle
factors. However, being overweight does increase your risk for developing
type 2 diabetes. If you have a history of diabetes in your family, eating
a healthy meal plan and regular exercise are recommended to manage your weight.
Myth #4 People with diabetes should eat special diabetic foods.
A healthy meal plan for people with diabetes is the same as that for
everyone – low in fat (especially saturated and trans fat), moderate in salt
and sugar, with meals based on whole grain foods, vegetables and fruit.
Diabetic and “dietetic” versions of sugar-containing foods offer no special
benefit. They still raise blood glucose levels, are usually more expensive and
can also have a laxative effect if they contain sugar alcohols.
Myth #5 If you have diabetes, you should only eat small amounts of
starchy foods, such as bread, potatoes and pasta.
Starchy foods are part of a healthy meal plan. What is important is the
portion size. Whole grain breads, cereals, pasta, rice and starchy
vegetables like potatoes, yams, peas and corn can be included in your meals and
snacks. The key is portions. For most people with diabetes, having
3-4 servings of carbohydrate-containing foods is about right. Whole grain
starchy foods are also a good source of fiber, which helps keep your gut
healthy.
Myth #6 People with diabetes are more likely to get colds and other
illnesses.
No. You are no more likely to get a cold or another illness if you
have diabetes. However, people with diabetes are advised to get flu
shots. This is because any infection interferes with your blood glucose
management, putting you at risk of high blood glucose levels and, for those
with type 1 diabetes, an increased risk of ketoacidosis.
Myth #7 Insulin causes atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
and high blood pressure.
No, insulin does not cause atherosclerosis. In the laboratory, there
is evidence that insulin can initiate some of the early processes associated
with atherosclerosis. Therefore, some physicians were fearful that
insulin might aggravate the development of high blood pressure and hardening of
the arteries. But it doesn’t.
Myth #8 Insulin causes weight gain, and because obesity is bad for
you, insulin should not be taken.
Both the UKPDS (United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study) and the DCCT
(Diabetes Control & Complications Trial) have shown that the benefit of
glucose management with insulin far outweighs (no pun intended) the risk of
weight gain.
Myth #9 Fruit is a healthy food. Therefore, it is ok to eat as
much of it as you wish.
Fruit is a healthy food. It contains fiber and lots of vitamins and
minerals. Because fruit contains carbohydrate, it needs to be included in
your meal plan. Talk to your dietitian about the amount, frequency and
types of fruits you should eat.
Myth #10 You don’t need to change your diabetes regimen unless your
A1C is greater than 8 percent.
The better your glucose control, the less likely you are to develop
complications of diabetes. An A1C in the sevens (7s), however, does not
represent good control. The ADA goal is less than 7 percent. The
closer your A1C is to the normal range (less than 6 percent), the lower your
chances of complications. However, you increase your risk of
hypoglycemia, especially if you have type 1 diabetes. Talk with your
health care provider about the best goal for you.
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well some of that stuff isnt entirely true.. my brother has juvenile diabetes and he is prone to getting sick alot more often than he did when he didnt have diabetes.
I'm not sure if many people understand that Insulin is a strong naturally occurring human hormone necessary for people to live. Insulin is released by the pancreas to regulate blood sugar and process glucose (the simple sugar the food you eat is digested into and released into the blood for energy.) In this way it is absurd to suggest that insulin leads to atherosclerosis. Try telling Type I Diabetics not to take their insulin and see how long they last before they end up in the hospital.
I'd also like to point out for those who do not know, there are two types of Diabetes:Type I and Type II. There is said to be a genetic link between both of these but nowadays many peple hear of Diabetes and automatically think Type II Diabetes due to the many numbers of overweight Americans who eat a diet saturated with high fat, high cholesterol, high salt, high calories,high sugar, and to top it off never exercise! Its no surprise Type II diabetes has been soaring in recent years. However, what many people forget is that Type I Diabetes exists. On a biological level it occurs because a nucleotide pairing is somehow omitted which ruins the DNA for producing insulin in the pancreas. Type I Diabetes is often diagnosed because of increased urination, increased consumption of fluids, hunger that cannot be satisfied because the calories consumed cannot be processed without insulin and rapid weight loss. I'm actually a Type I Diabetic and I lost 10 lbs in a week when 10 years old because I wasnt processing any of the food I was eating. Basically its a state of starvation and thus requires insulin. Just wanted to clarify so people know the facts. Insulin isnt bad. Everybody's body produces insulin... except for Type I Diabetics whose bodies simply do not produce enough.
"Its all very well in practice but it will never work in theory."
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/daimler