Onyekachi Onuora
What comes to mind when you hear “diabetes” is high blood sugar levels, insulin shots and not being able to eat sweets. The general public has many false ideas about diabetes and what it means to live with the condition.
To clear your doubt about diabetes, we’ve diagnosed facts and broken down 7 common misconceptions.
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Eating sugar causes diabetes
A very popular one. It is an old wives tale that consuming too much sugar causes diabetes. There are different types of diabetes and none of them is caused by eating too much sugar. What definitely increase your risk of having Type 2 diabetes is being overweight and obese. Of course, consuming sugar could cause weight gain, so just limit your intake.
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Slim people can’t have diabetes
Staying slim cuts the risk dramatically but being overweight is just one out of the several risk factors for diabetes. Slim people can also become diabetic. Type 1 diabetes is not preventable and it’s not associated with weight.
According to an article in Harvard Health Publications, 15% of people with diabetes are at a healthy weight.
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Diabetes affects only old people
Type 1 diabetes also known as insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes often occurs in children and young adults. Type 2 was called adult-onset diabetes. But these days, children as young as age 5 are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
According to American Diabetes Association, over 5,000 children develop diabetes.
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All types of diabetes are the same
The most common types of diabetes are Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant). Others are less common.
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No family history of diabetes, so I’m safe
Wrong darling. Family history is only one out of the many risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Other risk factors are: obesity, lack of physical exercise, high blood pressure, age, race, etc
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Diabetes can be prevented
Not all types of diabetes can be prevented. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition (a condition in which the immune system attacks your body) and it cannot be prevented. Your risk of developing type 2 diabetes is affected by some things you can’t change such as family history and race.
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Diabetes means you would lose a limb
Diabetes can cause serious damage to your heart, sight and vital organs if left uncontrolled. It can be reduced by keeping blood sugar under control.
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