Misunderstandings about diabetes risk factors, symptoms, healthy foods, and more could mark how diabetes patients take care of themselves. So, these myths need to be disclosed.
Here are a few myths that experts explain and bust,
Myth: Thin people don’t get type 2 diabetes
While some 85 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese, that means 15 percent of people with diabetes are at a healthy weight.
Regardless of weight, people age 45 and older get their blood sugar levels checked every three years, especially if you have risk factors like being sedentary; having a family history of diabetes or personal history of gestational diabetes; heart disease; high blood pressure; and high cholesterol.
Myth: Diabetes has no symptoms; only my doctor can detect it
Diabetes does have a number of early warning signs, but the problem is that they’re often subtle enough to overlook or ignore. No wonder 25 percent of people with diabetes don’t even know they have it.
Myth: Diabetics have to follow a strict, no-sugar diet
Dessert is not off the table, either for type 1 or type 2 diabetes. With type 2 diabetes, the key is moderation; keep sweets a small portion of your overall diet and fill the rest with fiber-packed whole grains, veggies, and lean protein. Type 1 diabetes is a little trickier, because you’ll have to learn how to adjust your next insulin dose to compensate for sugary carbs.
Myth: Eating sugar causes diabetes
Eating sugar doesn’t cause diabetes in the same smoking-gun way that cigarettes cause cancer. But sugar seems to play an indirect role and it’s just plain common sense to limit your intake. For one thing, eating too much sugar can lead to obesity, which is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
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