12 Myths About Diabetes

Diabetes is a lifelong disease, causing a disturbance in the body’s ability to turn food into energy. Typically, the food that someone eats breaks down into glucose and circulates through the bloodstream. The pancreas produces insulin or a hormone that is like a gate letting blood sugar into the body’s cells. Once in the cells, this glucose is used as energy.

When the body can’t use the insulin, or doesn’t make enough insulin, then there is too much glucose that remains in the bloodstream. Over time this causes serious health problems like heart disease, kidney disease, and vision loss. Science has found no cure for diabetes, but changing unhealthy lifestyles, using mediation as needed, and following the advice of a diabetic specialist will provide a patient with a long and productive life.

There are many misconceptions when it comes to diabetes, with what it is, how to manage it, and how dangerous it really is. Following inaccurate or misinformation can lead to a loss of eyesight, amputated limbs, heart attacks and strokes, skin issues and liver problems. Make sure to take the diabetes advice given to you by your medical provider and other reliable sources to avoid any further complications.

Here are 12 of the most common myths that surround diabetes.

Debunk the 12 Myths of Diabetes

1. "I don't need medication to control my blood sugar."

Don’t listen to advice from well-meaning friends and family; they really don’t know what is right when treating diabetes. Avoid trying unproven natural supplements or ignoring your medications. David Weingard, a professor who teaches people how to live better with diabetes and CEO of Fit4D in New York City, says, “The truth is the sooner you take your medications, the higher probability you’ll avoid complications.”

2. "Taking insulin is horrible and difficult. I hate needles."

Learning to inject and adjust your insulin might be challenging, but it can be taught to anyone. If you are afraid of needles and resistant to taking insulin, let your medical provider and their staff teach you how to do it. You may find it isn’t painful.

3. "If I must take insulin, I’m a failure."

Why would you think that? Dr. Kashif Munir, an endocrinologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore says, “It’s a very dynamic disease.” You may not need insulin with your type 2 diabetes if you change your lifestyle, improve your diet and exercise. The best advice from health professionals is to lose weight, which would maybe free yourself from insulin.

4. "If I have diabetes, I will be an amputee."

There are times when a person with diabetes will have a foot or leg amputated because of circulation problems or sores that develop. Always take your medications as prescribed. If you decide you do not need medications and do not want to make lifestyle changes, you could experience the dreaded amputation. The key is to keep your blood sugar under control.

5. "I have diabetes, so I must avoid sweets."

In years past, there was a set list of what a person with diabetes could eat. Now you can eat an occasional dessert if you do so in moderation and control your portions. Eat your diabetic diet all week, and on the weekend eat a moderate portion of your favorite dessert. Make sure you check your blood sugar, and keep taking your medications, too.