Want To Prevent Diabetes? Incorporate These 5 Lifestyle Changes
July 2, 2021
7-Day Meal Plan for Type 2 Diabetes
July 2, 2021
Diabetes is a chronic disease that may lead to the development of various other diseases. It is one of the most prevalent diseases in the world and therefore, has quite naturally generated many myths and misconceptions. It is high time to break some of these misconceptions about diabetes and know the facts behind these myths.
Myth: I will definitely develop diabetes because I am overweight.
Fact: It is true that being overweight can increase the risk of developing diabetes. However, many obese people never develop diabetes and many people who have perfect body weight or are slightly obese develop the disease. There are many factors that affect diabetes, such as unhealthy diet and lifestyle, having someone in the family with diabetes, previous experience of gestational diabetes, etc. Therefore, obesity doesn’t mean that diabetes is inevitable.
Myth: Eating sugar causes diabetes.
Fact: It is a very common misconception and the answer is no. Sugar doesn’t cause diabetes. However, eating an excessive amount of sugar increases the chances of becoming overweight, and therefore elevates the risk of diabetes.
Myth: I need to cut down on my carbs because I am diabetic.
Fact: Carbohydrates raise the blood sugar levels in the body, but avoiding them is not the key to effective diabetes management as they are extremely important for the energy of the body. If you are diabetic, you should try to consume carbohydrates from natural sources such as fruits and vegetables, rather than cutting out carbs altogether.
Myth: I need to eat a special diet because I have diabetes.
Fact: There is no special diet for diabetics. You can eat the same food as everyone else. All that matters in diabetes is that you consume healthy food, which is also recommended for people who don’t have diabetes. Include fruits, vegetables and whole grains in your diet and avoid eating packaged food as they are rich in unhealthy fat, sodium and processed sugar. However, there might be some foods that your doctor recommends you to avoid. Therefore, consult a doctor and figure out the best diet plan for you.
Myth: I shouldn’t be exerting myself through exercises because I am diabetic.
Fact: If you are diabetic, exercising regularly is extremely essential. Exercising not only makes your body sensitive to insulin but also controls blood sugar levels. Regular exercising can also boost blood circulation and prevent many diseases such as heart diseases and nerve damage that occur due to diabetes. However, you should never overexert yourself through exercises. Plan out a smooth exercise routine and follow it.
Myth: Type 2 diabetes is less serious than type 1 diabetes.
Fact: In type 1 diabetes, the body stops making insulin and therefore, you have to depend on external methods to provide insulin to your body. Whereas, in type 2 diabetes, either insulin produced is not enough or is not sufficiently used. Therefore, in type 2 diabetes, you might be able to manage the disease solely through a healthy diet and lifestyle, or in some cases oral medication. This is why most people think that type 1 diabetes is more serious than type 2 diabetes. However, this is not true. Type 2 diabetes has some serious, even life-threatening complications such as nerve damage, risk of amputations, kidney failure, etc. Hence, both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are equally serious but have different complications.
Myth: My diabetes is getting worse because I have been put on insulin injections.
Fact: Just because you have been put on insulin injections, it doesn’t necessarily indicate that your diabetes has gotten worsened. Type 2 diabetes is progressive in nature. This means that with time, the body starts producing lesser insulin, generating a need for insulin injections to control blood sugar levels. Oral medications and lifestyle changes might not be sufficient to control blood sugar levels in this condition.
Myth: I do not have a family history of diabetes, so I am safe.
Fact: A family history of diabetes indeed increases the risk of developing the disease. However, just because you do not have any diabetes patients in the family, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t develop the disease. There are a lot of factors that affect the development of diabetes such as obesity, physically inactive lifestyle, high blood pressure levels, etc.
Myth: Diabetes can be cured permanently.
Fact: There is no permanent cure for diabetes. However, by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating a healthy diet and taking your medications sincerely, you might be able to manage the disease well and make its presence almost negligible.
Myth: I have diabetes, therefore, amputation is inevitable for me.
Fact: Uncontrolled diabetes can cause damage to the nerves in the body and make your body more susceptible to developing foot ulcers, which might lead to amputations. However, if you control your blood sugar levels well, you can easily avoid these complications. Regular screening of feet is extremely important in case you are diabetic.
Myth: I can catch diabetes from someone else.
Fact: Diabetes is not a contagious disease. You cannot get diabetes from someone else via touch or blood transfusion. It can only be passed on by parents to their children, but it is also a genetic possibility and not an inevitable complication.
