Diabetes Center

Diabetes mellitus is a very common disease, one of the most widespread chronic health conditions in the world. At
least 50% of all diabetics are unaware of their condition; and in some countries, this figure may reach 80%. pto !!%
of "ndia#s urban population and $% of the rural population above the age of !5 have diabetes. %ut, the good news is
that upto 80% of type&' diabetes cases can be prevented by lifestyle changes li(e adopting a healthy diet and
increasing physical activity. )his health center is aimed at creating awareness among the readers with our e*pertise
in the medical domain, along with e*pert articles, diabetes tools, diabetes diet plan, and more, for a healthy and
happy life.




Home
Articles
Tips
Calculators
Questions & Answers
Recipes
Products
Diabetes Myths & Facts
Diabetes Myths & Facts
Diabetes is a contagious disease+,ating too much of sugar causes Diabetes+"f you have Diabetes then you can
never eat sugar+"f you don#t have a family history of Diabetes then you will never get Diabetes+"nsulin cures
Diabetes+and the list goes on.
-an you differentiate between the myths and facts related to diabetes. "f no, then you are the one amongst those
diabetics who is lost in the huge list of these myths. /o, get yourself ac0uainted with the diabetes facts so that the
ne*t time you can decide what is right for your health.
ome Common Myths & Facts!
Myth" #atin$ too much su$ar causes diabetes%
Fact" Diabetes is not caused by eating too much sugar. )ype ! diabetes is caused by a destruction of the insulin&
producing cells of the pancreas, which is not related to sugar consumption. )ype ' diabetes results from the body#s
inability to respond to insulin normally. )he tendency to get type ' diabetes is genetically inherited in most cases.
1ith a guided e*ercise regime and following a planned diet, the average person can eat sweets in limited 0uantities.
Myth" Diabetes is a conta$ious disease%
Fact" Diabetes is not contagious. Diabetes is an endocrine disease and is caused due to problem with the amounts
of insulin produced by the beta cells in the pancreas. Diabetes tends to have an inherited trait that runs in families.
Myth" &' you are a diabetic then you can ne(er eat su$ar a$ain%
Fact" )he management of carbohydrate inta(e 2not 3ust sugar4 is a critical part of diabetes management as diabetes
affects the entire body. Diabetics can eat sweets, but sugary treats must be part of a careful meal plan along with a
balanced medication and e*ercise regime. )his will help you (eep your blood sugar levels near normal, feel healthy
and prevent long term complications.
Myth" Children with diabetes can ne(er eat sweets%
Fact" -hildren having diabetes can eat a certain amount of sugary food as part of a balanced diet, but they need to
control the total amount of carbohydrates inta(e, which includes sugary treats. As sweets provide no real nutritional
value other than calories, they should be limited but not necessarily eliminated.
Myth" &' you are $ood in maintainin$ your blood $lucose le(els and i' you 'eel 'ine then you don)t ha(e to $o
'or chec* ups%
Fact" 5igh or low blood sugar doesn#t always produce symptoms. 6egular monitoring is the only way to (now your
blood sugar levels. Diabetes is always serious. 7ou need to ta(e proper medications along with appropriately planned
diet and e*ercise. 7ou may be good in maintaining it but that is no reason to escape regular health chec(ups.
Myth" Diabetics can 'eel whether their blood su$ar le(els are hi$h or low%
Fact" )here is no way for sure that will tell you your blood glucose levels e*cept for testing them. A person with
diabetes may feel physical symptoms 2such as e*treme thirst, wea(ness, or fatigue4 if blood sugar levels are high or
low. %ut some people may not show symptoms when their blood glucose is too high or low. And also as some of the
symptoms of high and low blood glucose are similar, it may be difficult to (now what these symptoms mean. )he only
way to be sure is to chec( your blood glucose levels.
Myth" Hi$h blood su$ar le(els are normal 'or some people and they aren+t really a si$n o' diabetes%
Fact" 5igh blood sugar levels are never normal. -ertain conditions and certain medications may temporarily raise the
blood sugar levels in people without diabetes. %ut people who have higher than normal blood sugar levels or sugar in
their urine should be chec(ed for diabetes by a doctor.
Myth" &t)s possible to ha(e ,ust -sli$ht) diabetes%
Fact" )here is nothing li(e 8slight# diabetes. ,ither you will have diabetes or you won#t. Any diabetic condition 2type&!
or type&'4 demands medical attention and careful lifestyle choices.
Myth" &' you don)t ha(e a 'amily history o' diabetes then you won)t $et it%
Fact" Diabetes tends to be an inherited trait that runs in families. "t increases the chances of some people of
developing diabetes than the others. %ut plenty of people diagnosed with the disease don#t have a family history of
diabetes. 1eight and lifestyle are factors playing a ma3or role in someone ac0uiring diabetes.
Myth" Diabetes is not easy to control%
Fact" Diabetes is metabolic disorder which is not curable. %ut it can be controlled when patients properly manage
their meals, e*ercise, and ta(e the right medications. 1ith the proper guidance and education, patients can prevent
and9or minimi:e many of the more serious complications that diabetes causes.
Myth" &nsulin cures diabetes%
Fact" Diabetes is a metabolic disorder and diabetes is not a curable disease. )a(ing insulin helps in managing
diabetes, but does not cure it. "nsulin helps in utili:ing the glucose in the body to be used for producing energy. )his
helps in (eeping the blood sugar levels under control, but ta(ing insulin doesn;t correct the underlying cause.
Myth" All people with diabetes need to ta*e insulin always%
Fact" All people with type ! diabetes have to ta(e insulin in3ections as their pancreases don#t produce insulin. /ome,
but not all, people with type ' diabetes have to ta(e insulin with or without pills to manage their blood sugar levels as
advised by their physician.
Myth" Tablets or pills 'or diabetes are a 'orm o' insulin%
Fact" Diabetes medicines ta(en orally are not a form of insulin. "nsulin is a protein that would be bro(en down or
destroyed by the acids and digestive en:ymes in the stomach and intestines if ta(en orally. "nsulin is delivered via
in3ections, inhalers or patches but not orally.
Myth" Ta*in$ more insulin means your diabetes is $ettin$ worse%
Fact" <any factors affect blood sugar levels li(e diet, e*ercise, and also, the time of the day. )herefore, insulin doses
are re0uired to be continuously ad3usted to help a person (eep his or her blood sugar levels in a healthy range. 7our
doctor will guide you with the right insulin dosages.
Myth" Children can out$row diabetes%
Fact" -hildren never outgrow diabetes. "n cases of type ! diabetes, the cells of the pancreas that produce insulin are
destroyed. =nce they are destroyed, they will never produce insulin again. >ids with type ! diabetes will always need
to ta(e insulin 2until a cure is found4. Although in (ids with type ' diabetes, an improvement in their blood sugar levels
may be seen after puberty or with lifestyle ad3ustments, they will probably always have a tendency toward having high
blood sugar levels, especially if they are physically inactive or gain too much weight.