Diabetes Myth Busters

Transcription

1 Diabetes Myth Busters There's a lot of information out there about diabetes, but how much of it is actually true? Is diabetes contagious? Can you get diabetes from eating too much sugar? Can insulin cause impotence? Is all diabetes the same? Can you eat that?! It seems like too many people are getting their diabetes information from Halle Berry. Looking for the real story? Take our diabetes myth busters quiz and find out the real story behind some of the most common diabetes myths! (And yes, you can eat that.) Reviewed by Susan Weiner, RD, MS, CDE, CDN 3/13 1) Eating too much sugar causes diabetes. There is absolutely no link between sugar consumption and diabetes diagnosis. Obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance, and overweight individuals may be stereotyped as big "sweet" eaters, which could be one way this myth is perpetuated. But no, diabetes is not caused by eating too much sugar. 2) People with type 2 diabetes don't have to take insulin. Sometimes even with the best effort diet, exercise, and/or medication fail to keep blood sugar levels in an acceptable range in people with type 2 diabetes. Insulin injections give those patients the control they need to enjoy a healthy and more enjoyable life. Using insulin doesn't mean that you've "failed," but instead could give you the results your hard work deserves. Page 1

2 3) You can catch diabetes from someone. Even though there isn't yet a comprehensive list of reasons why people are diagnosed with diabetes, you can be sure that it's not contagious. Different factors, like being overweight or a genetic predisposition, may contribute to a diabetes diagnosis, but diabetes isn't something you can "catch" from someone else. 4) Type 2 diabetes is as serious as type 1 diabetes. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are serious conditions that can lead to the same array of diabetic complications, including high blood pressure, heart disease, nerve damage, limb loss, kidney failure, and blindness if not treated properly. Diabetes of any type is nothing to be taken lightly. 5) Borderline diabetes is nothing to worry about. As the old saying goes, having borderline diabetes is like being borderline pregnant. It's either all or nothing! The term "borderline diabetes" actually refers to impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), a precursor condition to type 2 diabetes. Today, the medical community avoids using this as a diagnostic term, in part because it understates the importance and risk of IGT. Page 2

3 6) Exercise is safe - and important - for people with diabetes. Exercise is crucial for people with diabetes and for people without! Exercise is a basic cornerstone of diabetes management. While strenuous physical activity can drive blood sugars lower, it's also true the some people experience a rise in blood sugar, especially with strenuous exercise, and there are certain precautions someone with diabetes should take before exercising. But exercise is critical to your long-term blood glucose control and a healthy mind, body, and spirit. 7) Insulin causes impotence. Impotence can affect men with diabetes as a result of nerve or vascular damage associated with diabetes. The anxiety, stress, and depression that often accompany diabetes can also have an impact on libido and performance. However, insulin is not the cause of impotence. Insulin may help control blood sugars for some people with diabetes, helping to reduce nerve damage, vascular issues, and the risk of erectile dysfunction values. 8) Diabetes only happens to the elderly and the overweight. Diabetes can happen to anyone the young, the old, the overweight, and the thin. People of all different ages can be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and Page 3

4 there is a rise in the number of children being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. While there are some lifestyle factors that may contribute to a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, diabetes can strike anyone at any time. 9) Sugar-free foods can make your blood sugar go up. "Sugar-free" doesn't necessarily mean calorie-free or carbohydrate-free these foods may still have significant amounts of carbohydrates and calories, either because they are sweetened with sugar alcohols or other non-sugar sweeteners or because they contain other high-carbohydrate ingredients. Look for the total carbohydrate content listed on the food label to get the real scoop on what these treats can do to your blood sugars. Also, foods labeled as "sugar-free" may contain sugar alcohols, which aren't completely absorbed during digestion and may cause less of a rise in blood sugar levels. They can also have a laxative effect for many people, so should be taken in small doses. 10) Using an insulin pump instead of injections means that your diabetes is "worse." If your diabetes requires insulin, how you administer that insulin doesn't make your diabetes "bad" or "worse." Insulin pumps are small devices that contain a cartridge filled with fast-acting insulin that is gradually pushed from the cartridge through a tube and into your body. Wearing an insulin pump doesn't mean your diabetes is any worse than before, but that you've chosen a pump instead of syringes that's the only difference. 11) All diabetes is the same. Page 4

5 There are many different types of diabetes, including type 1, type 2, gestational, Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA), and Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY). Treatment methods may vary across the different types, ranging from diet and exercise to oral medication to insulin therapy, but the complications of all types are similar. No one type of diabetes is "worse" or "better" than another, and all diabetes needs to be taken very seriously. 12) People with diabetes can't ever eat anything with sugar. Diabetes doesn't mean you can't eat sweets, but it means you need to carefully monitor what you're eating and make the healthiest decisions for your diabetes life. The reality is it isn't only sugar specifically that raises blood glucose levels it's any food containing carbohydrates, including honey, fruit, milk, and vegetables. And carbohydrates can be found in all foods that contain starches and/or sugars. So all the carbohydrates you eat need to be discussed with your medical team and worked into your meal plan. Also remember that fiber and fat can help delay the absorption of carbohydrates. 13) Women with diabetes can get pregnant and have healthy babies. Women with pre-existing type 1 or type 2 diabetes can have healthy and happy pregnancies! While there are certain risks associated with pregnancy in diabetes, good preconception and prenatal care, an informed and proactive healthcare Page 5

6 team, and tight control of blood sugar levels can help most women with diabetes avoid complications and deliver healthy babies. Results You got correct out of 13! 0-4 points Still looking for magical cures? Maybe you should take the quiz again and see if you're ready to demystify these myths. 5-9 points Not much gets by you, but there's still some information left to learn. Ask questions, get the right answers, and help make short work of diabetes misinformers! 9-13 points Nice job, Mythbuster. You know your stuff, and you won't be duped by any diabetes misinformation. Now help others know more by spreading your knowledge! Want to talk about diabetes myths with others who understand? Check out the dlife support forum! You can also watch clips from dlifetv about mythbusting, and plenty of other topics that hit close to home. And if you want to test your knowledge of diabetes myths, or other topics, visit our quiz archives and learn more! SOURCES: 1-American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Myths. (Accessed 7/6/11) 2-American Diabetes Association. Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes (Accessed 7/6/11). Page 6