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Even if you are one of the more than 34 million people with diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is so much confusing information that what is done and what is simplified or distorted is not all. quite clear. But knowing how to prevent and treat this disease, whose rate has doubled in the past 20 years, is essential to keep it under control. And because diabetes dramatically increases your risk for cardiovascular problems like heart disease and stroke, taking it seriously could save your life.
Check out these diabetes myths and get well.
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Myth #1 Too much sugar causes diabetes.
Sugar does not cause diabetes. However, being overweight is one of the main risk factors, and foods high in added sugar tend to be high in calories. “But keep in mind that fat contains twice as many calories as sugar,” says Matt Petersen, general manager of medical information at the American Diabetes Association. Another potential culprit: eating red meat. If you’re at risk, your best bet is to cut your total calorie intake and get those calories from nutrient-dense foods like non-starchy vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat protein and dairy, explains. Christine Lee, MD, of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. And when you crave a candy, focus on foods with natural sugar.
Myth #2 You can only get type 1 diabetes when you are a child.
There’s a reason type 1 diabetes isn’t called juvenile diabetes anymore: you can get it at any age, says Petersen. Five percent of American adults have been diagnosed with type 1, but sometimes adults are misdiagnosed with the more common type 2, says Sara Pinney, MD, pediatric endocrinologist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The two types of diabetes have different causes: in type 1 diabetes, “the body mistakenly attacks the beta cells in the pancreas, causing them to stop producing insulin”, the hormone that lowers blood glucose. in the blood, explains Dr. Pinney. With type 2, the pancreas makes insulin, but the body does not respond well to it. Patients with type 1 need to take insulin to normalize their blood sugar levels, otherwise they will get very sick. To tell the difference, your doctor may test your blood for certain antibodies.
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Myth #3 If you have type 2 diabetes, you need insulin.
Most people don’t – many are able to control their diabetes through diet and exercise, oral medications, or a combination of both. Among people with type 2 diabetes, only 40% use insulin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, your insulin requirements may change as you age. “Ultimately, to keep your blood sugar in a healthy range, you may need to use it,” says Petersen. “And that’s OK. It’s just that your disease has progressed and now you are taking the best step to manage it. (And if you have type 1 diabetes, you’ll need to take insulin right from the start.)
Myth #4 You would know if you had diabetes.
It can take months, or even years, for symptoms to become extreme enough for people to find out for themselves that they have type 2 diabetes, says Dr. Pinney. This is because the most common signs, increased urination and thirst, are easy to ignore or eliminate as you age. By the time more noticeable symptoms like blurred vision or tingling in the hands and feet prompt someone to make a doctor’s appointment, he or she may have had high blood sugar for a long time. An estimated 24% of people with diabetes go undiagnosed, which is why doctors recommend that people with major risk factors, such as age 45 or older, being overweight, or having a family history of diabetes, have their A1C tested regularly. This simple blood test will give your doctor an overview of your blood sugar levels over the past three months and is a way to diagnose diabetes.
Myth #5 The only reason diabetes doctors tell patients to exercise is to lose weight.
Nope! While it can help people lose weight, exercise (even if you’re not losing weight) also increases your insulin sensitivity, which naturally lowers your blood sugar. Studies have shown that a single exercise session can improve insulin sensitivity by up to 50% for up to 72 hours after the sweat session. And even if your weight stays exactly the same, exercise can lower your A1C (long-term glucose levels) and your chances of developing diabetes. This is because when muscle cells are active, they are able to absorb glucose and use it for energy without the need for insulin, says Petersen. “Exercise is kind of a miracle cure in its own way.”
This article originally appeared in the May 2020 issue of Prevention.
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