Health
If you consume a lot of sugar, you can eventually get diabetes. Isn't that a familiar phrase? But how close is it to the truth? Perhaps this is an established misconception? Indeed, diabetes is one of the most common diseases of our time, which is full of myths and misconceptions. Twelve of the most common myths are presented in this article.
Myth No. 1: People with diabetes are not allowed to eat anything sweet
Despite all the fears that diabetics fear, a piece of sweet cake or a couple of cookies will not lead to a deterioration in their health if they eat these goodies correctly. In fact, moderate doses of sugar can be consumed by second-degree diabetics, who account for approximately 85 to 90 per cent of all diabetics worldwide. In other words, if you have a certain diet agreed with your doctor, then it is quite possible to include regular consumption of small portions of sweets in your diet. Of course, it is desirable to do some physical exercises on a regular basis. This verdict was officially issued by experts from the American Diabetes Association.
So, no one forbids diabetics to include some sweets in their diet. In addition, many sweet products are now being produced specifically for diabetics. These products contain virtually no calories. And yet, do not forget that sugar is exactly the carbohydrate that affects the level of glucose in the blood of diabetics. Thus, a diabetic can afford some sweets if his diet consists of low-carb foods. For example, it will be useful to eat white chicken, broccoli, and green salad before sweets.
Myth # 2: If you eat a lot of sugar, you can get diabetes
Do not worry, those with a sweet tooth are not destined to develop diabetes. It is assumed that this disease develops due to a special combination of genetic factors that overlap with a person's lifestyle, leading to diabetes. If you buy a kilogram of sugar in a store, and then eat it for a week or two, generously sweetening tea and coffee with tablespoons of this product, this does not mean that this sugar will soon It will be in your blood! But if you are overweight, this factor may play a more significant role in diabetes. These people are the most numerous among patients with second-degree diabetes. And a large amount of sugar, as you know, may well add a few extra pounds. If one of your ancestors had diabetes, it would be very useful to adhere to a healthy diet and exercise. This will allow you, first of all, to control your weight. And for those who already have diabetes, these tips will help keep their illness in check.
Myth No. 3: People with diabetes have to spend their whole lives on a special diet consisting of special foods
It's not quite like that. The fact is that a healthy diet for a diabetic means exactly as much as for any healthy person. It is easy to verify the correctness of this statement if you just try to understand what “healthy food” means in a broad sense. It is believed that a healthy diet should include cereal products (whole grains!) , vegetables and fruits. In addition, it is necessary to avoid fatty foods (especially when it comes to fat with a high content of saturated acids and so-called trans fat). Limit your consumption of salt and sugar in its usual form. This is a standard “healthy” diet. The diet that is recommended for diabetics is no different from it. In other words, if you stick to this diet and be persistent when you are trying to shove another product your body does not need through advertising, you can live happily ever after depending on whether you have diabetes or not.
Myth # 4: You can get diabetes from a diabetic patient
This statement makes no sense, as diabetes is not an infectious or contagious disease.
And although in each case it can be difficult to name the reasons why a person develops diabetes, it is impossible to get it from another person (like the flu, for example, or respiratory infection) is an absolute fact.
As mentioned earlier, the risk of developing second-degree diabetes is higher for people whose ancestors also had diabetes (provided that they are genetically related to them).
Myth No. 5: Only one type of diabetes is dangerous
This judgment is wrong. In fact, diabetes belongs to a special group of diseases, each of which requires a special (separate) treatment. Another thing is that these diseases lead to the fact that the human body loses its ability to process glucose from food into energy, which leads to the accumulation of sugar in the blood. The most well-known degrees of diabetes are first-degree diabetes (formerly known as juvenile diabetes) and second-degree diabetes (so-called adulthood diabetes). The first type occurs in children, adolescents and young people under 30 years of age, while the second type affects the middle age and older generations, respectively. In addition, there is so-called gestational diabetes, which only occurs in pregnant women. The reasons for each of these types of diabetes are different, but they all share the need for a balanced diet, physical activity, and, very often, medication. First-degree diabetes requires people to take insulin every day for their entire lives. The situation with second-degree diabetes is even more serious, when untimely insulin intake can have devastating consequences for the body, threatening a person with blindness, stroke, or heart attack.
Myth # 6: Only people with diabetes take insulin
We should start with the fact that everyone needs insulin, as this hormone is produced by the pancreas to help the body convert food into energy. People who do not have diabetes produce and absorb just the amount of insulin necessary for the body to function normally. In diabetics, insulin is either not produced at all, or produced in small amounts, or the insulin produced is not absorbed by the body. That is why it is vital for most diabetics (especially patients with second-degree diabetes) to take a dose of insulin on time. At the same time, no one cancels a balanced diet and the need for physical activity. And when it comes to insulin, it's time to debunk another common myth — insulin doesn't cure diabetes! This hormone, which is important for any person's life, only helps to control the disease.
Myth #7: No matter what you do, you won't be able to prevent complications from diabetes
This statement is far from the truth! Numerous studies have clearly demonstrated that it is possible to at least delay the onset of complications caused by diabetes. And with a competent and timely approach, you can avoid them altogether. This requires that the diabetic strictly adhere to the treatment plan developed for him by his doctor. It is also necessary to remember to monitor blood sugar levels and undergo regular medical examinations. Diabetics who suffer from the second degree of this disease tend to have high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol levels. If you keep these two factors under control, you can avoid such serious consequences of diabetes as nerve cell damage and kidney failure.
Myth No. 8: Only people who are overweight get diabetes
In fact, the pattern here is slightly different. A lot of people who suffer from second-degree diabetes are also overweight, and some are even obese. But if we take elderly diabetics, the percentage of overweight people is lower among them. And it's not that obese people with diabetes die before they reach this old age. The fact is that diabetes is alien to discriminatory tendencies, and even the most skinny person can fall victim to this disease. But a healthy diet and exercise that will allow you not to gain weight are just necessary to keep this disease under control. People with diabetes should know this in order not to let themselves relax and prevent the disease from progressing.
Myth No. 9: Physical activity is contraindicated for people suffering from diabetes
The opposite is true: active physical activity is a key component of measures to treat diabetes of any degree. Sometimes, such a load is the only way that allows a diabetic to better absorb insulin and monitor their own weight. Alas, very often doctors prescribing treatment for diabetes, and patients suffering from this disease themselves, undeservedly ignore the need for exercise. And if someone you know (or yourself) has been treated for diabetes for a long time, and at the same time avoids exercise because their attending physician does not recommend them, advise the patient to change his doctor, before it's too late. The need for physical activity does not mean that you need to stay in the gym all your free time. And it is not necessary to carry heavy weights and barbells at the same time. We are talking about regular physical activity that is fully compatible with the physical capabilities of the patient's body. They should be part of treatment regardless of the patient's age. Sometimes even regular long walks are invaluable in combating the development of the disease.
Myth No. 10: Diabetics who strictly follow prescribed treatment never have blood sugar levels above normal
Alas, this is not true. Unfortunately, in some patients, sugar levels stubbornly do not want to stay at “normal”, even if the patient fanatically follows the instructions of the attending physician. But this should not be surprised, much less despair. The fact is that second-degree diabetes is not a disease that can be so easily controlled. It is especially difficult to do this when a person is aging — the patient's body is constantly undergoing some changes, is exposed to the external environment, stress, infectious diseases, diseases, diets, treatments and so on and so forth. Sometimes one can only wonder that in such a situation the blood sugar level “manages” not to increase.
Of course, for any diabetic, the best reward is a normal blood sugar level. But just because he's faced with a disappointing reality several times doesn't mean he should stop treatment and stop exercising. If the patient continues to follow the chosen course of treatment, then, in the end, he will be rewarded — his blood glucose level will return to normal.
Myth No. 11: There are mild, even non-dangerous forms of diabetes
Unfortunately, this claim is also false. You can't get diabetes “just a little bit”. Either a person has diabetes or doesn't. And if this disease has developed in your body (it doesn't matter if it's first or second degree diabetes), it needs to be given a lot of attention. And even if, thanks to your willpower, you manage to maintain a strict diet and go to the gym, which allows you to keep the symptoms of the disease under control, you must be alert. The situation is that the disease can get out of control at any time. This means that you should already have a backup treatment plan agreed with your doctor. And this plan should include medication in case of worsening (including insulin). To do this, it is necessary to regularly monitor blood glucose levels.
Myth No. 12: People diagnosed with diabetes are doomed people
Absolute delusion. Over the years, a certain cliché has emerged: diabetes is a long-term disease (sometimes lifelong) that cannot be cured. Diabetics are people whose high blood sugar levels cause terrible complications, and this level is increasing from year to year. If a person suffering from diabetes believes in this cliché, then we can say that he is doomed.
However, most diabetics continue to lead an active, one might say, athletic lifestyle. They are so busy with life that the only thing they can do is to keep their disease under control. The diagnosis of diabetes does not in any way cancel career, travel, entertainment and other joys of life. One difference is that these people must follow the treatment regimen, planning their actions in advance in order to take all necessary precautions. For example, if you're on a long trip, make sure you're able to monitor your blood sugar levels when needed. Try to choose in advance the restaurants where you will dine so that you don't have to spend time looking for the food you are used to later. And if you have a loving person and reliable friends next to you, then you are guaranteed a life full of positive emotions and pleasant experiences even with such a terrible diagnosis — diabetes.