10 Biggest Diabetes Myths

By Anonymous Knowing fact from fiction can help control the deadly disease 1 Myth: People with diabetes can't eat sweets or chocolate. If eaten as part of a healthy meal plan, or combined with exercise, diabetics can eat desserts and sweets. They are no more "off limits" to them than they are to people without the disease. 2 Myth: 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. 3 Myth: 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, and 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 have a laxative effect if they contain sugar alcohols. 4 Myth: 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. A typical serving of pasta, for instance, is about the size of a baseball cut in half. Whole-grain breads, cereals, pasta, rice and starchy vegetables like potatoes, yams, peas and corn can be included in your meals and snacks. 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 abdominal system healthy. 5 Myth: 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 bloodglucose management, putting you at risk of high blood-glucose levels and, for those with type 1 diabetes, an increased risk of ketoacidosis (a dangerous level of acid, a byproduct of excess glucose, in the blood). 6 Myth: 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. 7 Myth: 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. 8 Myth: Insulin causes weight gain, and because obesity is bad for you, insulin should not be taken. Both the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) and the Diabetes Control & Complications Trial (DCCT) have shown that the benefit of glucose management with insulin far outweighs (no pun intended) the risk of weight gain. 9 Myth: 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 carbohydrates, it needs to be included in your meal plan. Talk to your dietitian about the amount, frequency and types of fruits you should eat. 10 Myth: 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 score-a long-term measurement of your average blood-glucose level-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 (low blood sugar), especially if you have type 1 diabetes. Talk with your health care provider about the best goal for you. Source: American Diabetes Association Copyright Johnson Publishing Company Mar 2008 (c) 2008 Ebony. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.