Even if we are surrounded by high technology and given easy access to information, there are still misconceptions about diabetes. The concepts range from believable to really outrageous.
Diabetes can be acquired from another Person: One has diabetes because his or her body could not produce insulin, and not because he or she acquired it from another person with it.
Insulin Injection is Necessary in all diabetic patients: Insulin shots are only required to patients suffering from Type 1 Diabetes. The reason for this is that the body cannot generate its own insulin anymore. For patients suffering from Type 2 Diabetes are required to take medication and practice regular exercise. However, if all these methods fail, these patients are then required to have insulin shots.
No Other Parts of The Body is affected by Diabetes except blood: Diabetes treatments are necessary otherwise all parts of the body may suffer from the complications diabetes may bring. The common complications of diabetes are heart-related ailments, kidney and nerve damages and many more. Blood diseases are just some of the complications this disease may bring.
Eating too much sweet foods may contribute to the development of diabetes: Sweet foods do not cause diabetes; it may only aggravate the condition most especially to those who have been diagnosed with one.
Hypertension and Atherosclerosis are caused by Insulin: Insulin may only aggravate hypertension and atherosclerosis condition but these two diseases are caused by other factors and not by insulin.
Too much fruit is okay for Diabetic Patients: While fruits are considered to be very healthy because of the nutrients and minerals it contains, some fruits may have some contents that are not too good for diabetic patients.
Diabetics Must Stay Away From Bread, Potatoes, and Pastas: Breads, cereals, and pasta that are made of whole grains, brown rice, and vegetables that contain starches have high amounts of fiber and complex carbohydrates that are good for diabetics. Eating three or four servings of these types of food per day is recommended. Again, moderation is the important thing to keep in mind.
Chocolates; big no for diabetics: Because chocolates are sweets, it is also believed that these are bad for diabetic patients. In contrary to this, it is okay for diabetic patients to eat chocolates as long as these are eaten moderately.
Diabetics should stick to a Special meal exclusively for Diabetics: The reason why Diabetic diet is made is because diabetic patients find it hard to follow healthy diet. However, if you are a patient who can easily follow healthy diet, then there is no need for you to stick with special diabetic meal. Moreover, special diabetic meals can be very expensive especially to those who are not well-off.
Insulin Contributes to Weight Gain: Following a healthy diet and exercise counter-balance the possibility of weight gain due to Insulin. It is far safer for a diabetic to receive Insulin, than it is for them not to.
Diabetes only develops in adults: Anybody can have diabetes. Because diabetes may also be acquired by the type of lifestyle a person lives, even children may have this. Some of the factors that may cause diabetes to develop are foods and low level of mobility and these are present in kids as well. Many children nowadays are very much hooked up into playing video games and using computers and these activities do not require much mobility. Moreover, exposure to many unhealthy foods may also contribute to the development of diabetes in children.
Diabetics Are Likely to Get More Illnesses Than Others Without the Disease: Diabetics are encouraged to receive flu shots only because infections of any sort can raise blood sugar levels and that is unsafe for the diabetic patients.
The list of myths goes on and on, but you can plainly see that there are a wide variety of them. Some are silly while others are quite serious. Only by educating ourselves can these myths be put to rest once and for all.