Life can take an unexpected turn when you are diagnosed with diabetes. You may have to put a full stop to the lifestyle you are leading, make sacrifices and make wiser nutritional choices for a healthier future. The choices you make matter more than you realize. As diabetes can cause various health complications such as nerve damage, heart disease, vision impairment, hearing loss, leg amputation and a lot more, you have to tread carefully. You cannot afford to be negligent or wrong.
It is important to be aware of all the facts to make these wiser choices. As diabetes can frighten and cause a lot of health scares among people, it can give rise to a number of myths that can lead you to make some wrong choices.
Hence, it becomes extremely crucial to bust these myths and discard them for good. In this blog post, we will be doing the same.
Myth: People with diabetes cannot eat sugar
Truth: Everything within moderation is acceptable
Sugar and diabetes don’t go hand in hand according to most people. You might have come across many diabetic patients who have been asked to boycott sugar for life. It’s a popular myth that diabetic patients cannot have sugar at all, which is not true.
Although sugar needs to be limited there is no need to totally boycott it. Sugar and starch are the sources of energy that are required in a diet. However, it is pivotal that you consume them in moderation. In addition, try to go for healthier options, and limit processed sugar. Aim for a healthier diet that contains all the essential nutrients, including starch and sugar but in moderation.
Myth: Diabetics should refrain from driving
Truth: You can drive if you don’t have serious vision problems
Diabetic patients can sometimes experience difficulty concentrating after taking insulin, which may affect their driving capabilities. In such instances, driving should be avoided. However, this doesn’t mean diabetic patients can never drive. If you haven’t taken your medication lately, and do not have any vision problems, you can drive. Nevertheless, it is always suggested to talk to your medical professional beforehand to know for sure if driving is safe for you.
Myth: Natural products can cure diabetes
Truth: Diabetes is not curable but can be managed
Diabetes is a chronic disease, it is life-long and incurable. However, some natural supplements promise to cure diabetes, which is nothing but a hoax. Even though a supplement can contain natural products, it cannot cure diabetes. However, it can help with blood sugar levels and manage diabetes.
Myth: Only adults can get diabetes
Truth: Children can also get Type 2 diabetes
Diabetes is most commonly seen in people over the age of 40s, ultimately giving rise to the notion that diabetes can affect only adults. There is no denying that age is certainly a risk factor, adults are more susceptible to it; but it doesn’t change the fact that children can get diabetes too (both type 1 and type 2) The exact cause of diabetes in children is not known, however, it can be because of medical history, family history & genetics and poor lifestyle habits.
Myth: Diabetes only affects obese people
Truth: Not every obese person can have diabetes
Even though obese people are most prone to diabetes, almost anyone can get diabetes if they do not make healthy lifestyle choices. Further, underweight people and those who have normal weight can also develop diabetes.
In addition, not every obese person can have diabetes. At the end of the day, it comes down to genetics, age, health history, gender, and lifestyle choices.
Myth: Diabetes is not serious
Truth: Diabetes can have various health complications
Now that diabetes has become so common that 1 in 11 people have it, people are taking it lightly than ever before.. Diabetes can have serious medical consequences such as nerve damage, kidney damage, hearing impairment, blindness, and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, it can make even mild health issues serious and complicated. So, it is not a wise call not to take it seriously.
Closing thoughts
Diabetes is a complex and common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. However, there are many myths and misconceptions about diabetes that can be harmful, stigmatizing, or misleading. By dispelling these myths and educating ourselves and others about diabetes, we can help reduce the stigma and improve the quality of life for people living with this condition.
