Myth: After the onset of diabetes, you need to slow down
The fact is physical inactivity is one of the top reasons why the blood sugar level in some people increases. It is therefore medically suggested that one should incorporate hours of physical activity in the schedule in order to keep blood sugar level and the associated diseases under control.
The US CDC recommends getting at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity. If you have diabetes, the US CDC explains, being active makes your body more sensitive to insulin (the hormone that allows cells in your body to use blood sugar for energy), which helps manage your diabetes.
Myth: Eating sugar causes diabetes
Unfortunately many people blame sugar intake for diabetes.
The fact is though eating a sugar loaded diet causes diabetes, it is not the sole reason why someone is diabetic.
There are several risk factors that cause type 2 diabetes. Remotely associated factors like overweight, high body mass index, physical inactivity, age, prediabetes and family history of diabetes make one prone to the condition.
Myth: Those with diabetes should not eat fruits
The myth arises from the fact that fruits are sweet in taste and those diagnosed with diabetes should refrain from consuming foods that taste sweet.
The fact is people with diabetes can eat fruits but in moderate quantities. It is a fact that fruits have natural sugar in them, but cutting them from diet will deprive the body of essential nutrients that are solely found in fruits.
Fruits are rich in fibers, antioxidants and essential minerals. Hence it is advisable to consume seasonal fruits but only within limits.
Myth: Type 2 diabetes in not serious
The fact that type 2 diabetes is highly prevalent in the country with the country being declared as the diabetes capital of the country, it is being assumed that type 2 diabetes is mild in nature.
Type 2 diabetes is the culprit behind several life threatening diseases like heart attack and stroke. It can also impair one's vision abilities and can also delay wound healing.
Myth: If you have diabetes, you can not have regular diet
Some people take diabetes' fear factor a notch higher. They feel once detected with an abnormal blood sugar will make the regular diet unsuitable for them. They quickly change their diet to basic foods like boiled and parboiled vegetables.
The fact is that people with diabetes can enjoy every meal including the one they have been eating before diagnosis. The only change they need to do is to make the diet wholesome and limit the portion of carbohydrate.
Myth: Diabetes will make you blind
The right information is that untreated diabetes will make you blind.
Diabetes, if treated, regularly will not affect the vision of an individual.
The reason why diabetes impairs one's vision is because due to high blood sugar the tiny vessels carrying blood to the eyes are damaged. This disrupts the vision of the eyes. This is called diabetic retinopathy.
If the diabetes is kept under control, adverse effects of the disease are less likely to happen.
Myth: Diabetes is communicable
Though the prevalence of this myth is low, unfortunately it is there.
Diabetes is a non-communicable disease and you can not catch diabetes from someone else. You can only get diabetes when the risk factors of the disease are present in your body.
Myth: I don't have family history of diabetes, I won't get diabetes
Though it is true that having a family history of diabetes increases your risk for diabetes, it is not true that not having a family history safeguards you.
Family history is one of the several risk factors of diabetes. There are several cases where people have developed diabetes because of unhealthy lifestyle habits and not because their parents or siblings had diabetes.
Myth: Taking insulin means your diabetes is no longer under control
Medicine is always associated with a fear factor. Same is the case with diabetes.
When someone is recommended to be on insulin they assume their diabetes is beyond control and is in a serious stage.
The sole purpose of recommending insulin is that since the body is no longer producing this hormone you need to take it to keep the blood sugar under control.
Myth: My diabetes is on the lower side, there is no need to worry
Be it diabetes or prediabetes, one should never ignore elevated blood sugar levels. Diabetes is mostly a progressive disease and the risk of developing this disease is always high.
Sometimes even without showing any significant symptoms the diabetes level rises fast.
Hence once you have been detected with diabetes do not ignore it and work hard to lower it.