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Common Diabetes Myths

Misconceptions About Cures and Management

Sep 9, 2009 Cherie Burbach

Diabetics deal with many fears upon getting the disease. What's worse, friends and family around the diabetic may have a few misconceptions about what diabetes really is.

According to the American Diabetes Association, there are "23.6 million children and adults in the United States, or 7.8% of the population, who have diabetes." While diabetes is no longer an immediate death sentence, diagnosis of the disease does mean a change in lifestyle and potential for complications.

Emotional support from friends and family is especially important in a diabetic's life. While many people have educated themselves on the ins and outs of diabetes, others have grasped on to a few common misconceptions about the disease. Following are just a few.

Diabetics Can't Have Sugar

Being diabetic means eating a healthy, balanced diet. It also means the occasional piece of cake or cookie isn't going to be harmful. If a diabetic exercises regularly and has good blood sugar control, he or she can have things made with sugar. Some diabetics find that having a small piece of something made with real sugar is actually easier on their system, whereas artificial sweeteners can irritate the digestive system or cause diarrhea.

Diabetics know that it's the overall blood sugar control that is important. While an occasional treat is fine, indulging too often can be harmful.

Diabetics "Brought It On Themselves"

There is a common misconception that every diabetic brought the disease upon his body through poor diet and lack of exercise. This isn't the case, especially with Type 1 diabetics. Type 1 diabetes, formerly called Juvenile Diabetes, can strike people of any age. Often young people who are otherwise perfectly healthy get the disease.

Type 2 diabetics, on the other hand, often inherit the disease from their family history. Poor diet and weight gain play a part in getting the disease. Despite this, diabetes isn't a disease that targets only the obese. If that were the case every single obese individual would have it.

According to the American Diabetes Association website, "The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles."

Insulin Cures Diabetes

Insulin allows diabetics to live, but it is in no way a cure. Diabetics must monitor their blood sugars several times a day, watch what they eat, and exercise. Even when they are sick, they must pay special attention to changes in their blood sugar. Even with insulin, diabetics can be susceptible to complications.

Diabetes is "Almost Cured"

Just like the notion that insulin cures the disease, the thought that diabetes almost has a cure is a dangerous one to subscribe to. While scientists have made great strides in researching diabetes, a cure could still be several years (or decades away). In the case of science, "getting close" to a disease could mean something different in timing than for people suffering from the disease.

Diabetes Can Be Reversed Through Diet

Diabetes is a disease that can be managed, however there is no way to completely get rid of the disease. Once someone is diabetic, he has the disease for the rest of his life. Many diabetics (and their families) actually adopt a healthier lifestyle than before they were diabetic. In some cases, diabetics can improve their blood sugar to the point that they are within almost normal (non-diabetic) range.

Many books claim to reverse diabetes through a specific diet. But while diabetes can be managed, it doesn't mean the disease has gone away. While eating healthy is a wonderful way to manage diabetes so it doesn't take control of a patient's life, there is no way to completely reverse the disease by eating certain foods.

In the life of a diabetic, good control and a healthy lifestyle are extremely important. Equally as essential are the emotional supporting and understanding from the people around them. For those people who have a diabetic in their life, it is important to become educated on the facts about diabetes versus ideas which are simply myths. For additional information, the American Diabetes Association offers a plethora of facts and advice at their website.

The copyright of the article Common Diabetes Myths in General Medicine is owned by Cherie Burbach. Permission to republish Common Diabetes Myths in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Don't Buy Into These Common Diabetes Myths