There is a great deal of misinformation surrounding diabetes and here are 7 often heard diabetes myths:
� Taking insulin can lead to high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries. Early tests lead to the suggestion that insulin might play a role in triggering processes that are associated with the development of hardened arteries but this has shown to be incorrect and there is no evidence that insulin causes either high blood pressure or hardened arteries.
� People suffering from diabetes have to eat a special diabetic diet. So called 'Diabetic' variations of certain foods that are often sold in health food stores are nothing more than a marketing ploy. Diabetes sufferers should merely eat a normal balanced diet that is low in fat and that contains moderate levels of suager and salt.
� Diabetes sufferers should eat only very small quantities of carbohydrate. Carbohydrates, which are found in a variety of foods including beans, bread, pasta, cereals and rice and from which we get much of the glucose needed for energy, are a very important part of our diet, whether or not we have diabetes. They also contain a lot of our essential fiber intake. The secret for diabetes sufferers is simply to ensure that carbohydrates are balanced with other foods and that portions are kept to a reasonable size.
� Consuming excessive sugar can lead to diabetes. In spite of the fact that the reasons for diabetes are not entirely understood, it is known that excessive sugar consumption is not one of them. This said, eating excessive sugar could well lead to an individual gaining weight, which is most certainly a factor in increasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. However, it is not the sugar but the excess weight that you are carrying that may trigger diabetes.
� Diabetes is a contagious condition. This is not the case. It is believed however that people with diabetes have a genetic predisposition for the condition and that it might be set off by such things as viruses and drugs, which includes antibiotics. It is possible therefore that getting a common illness, or treating that illness with antibiotics, might lead to the onset of diabetes.
� Diabetics are not able to eat candy or chocolate. There is no reason at all why diabetics should not eat chocolate and candy, and indeed cakes and sweet desserts, provided they are consumed in reasonable small quantities and are just one single element of a normal healthy diet plan.
� Diabetes sufferers are prone to flu and colds. There is absolutely no evidence to demonstrate that individuals with diabetes are any more or less likely than anybody else to catch a cold or flu. Diabetics should however try their best to avoid such illnesses (by, for example, having an annual flu shot) because illnesses of this nature can interfere with levels of blood sugar, and thus make managing diabetes more difficult.
The list of myths which are associated with diabetes of course goes on and on, but the 7 myths listed here are possibly the most commonly heard and, in time, will hopefully be liad firmly to rest.
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