Myths about Type 2 Diabetes

People suffering from type 2 diabetes got the disease not because they like to eat sweets, but because they ate more than needed. Overeating for long can cause weight gain and put you at a higher risk for diabetes. There are many myths about diabetes that make it difficult for people to believe some of the hard facts, such as diabetes is a serious and potentially deadly disease.

[Read: Causes of Type 2 Diabetes]

For people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, there are many common misunderstandings of the disease that may complicate the life of a diabetic. Following are some of the most common myths associated with diabetes.

Myth #1: Eating too much sugar causes diabetes.

Diabetes is not caused by taking sugars. Diabetes is caused either because the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells in the body cannot use the insulin. So the body fails to convert sugar into energy. This can contribute to weight gain and being overweight increases your risk for developing type 2 diabetes.  In fact, sweets can be eaten in moderation as part of a healthy diet plan combined with exercise.

[Read: Does Avoiding Sugar Prevent Diabetes?]

Myth #2: People with diabetes must eat a special diet.

Diabetics do not need to eat any special diabetic food. They need to eat balanced and healthy meals. Their diet should be low in fats especially saturated and trans fat, moderate in salt and sugar and have meals based on whole grain foods, vegetables and fruit.

[Read: Diet for Diabetics]

Myth #3: Insulin injections to cure diabetes.

Insulin is a tool to manage diabetes, not a cure. For a diabetic it's important to balance food, activity, and medications, which can include insulin injections or an insulin pump, to get the necessary amount of this essential hormone. If you are able to reduce or even eliminate your need for drugs by losing weight, exercising, and sticking to a balanced diet plan then insulin injections are not at all mandatory.

Myth 4: Only adults have type 2 diabetes.

Earlier type 2 diabetes was used to be called as adult-onset diabetes. But these days, a lot more children are developing type 2 diabetes. Poor dietary habits and childhood obesity are some of the reasons for type 2 diabetes in children.

Myth #5: Only overweight people get diabetes.

Obesity is a factor of developing type 2 diabetes but it can affect skinny people also. As diabetes is a hereditary disease, so people having a diabetes history in their family always pose a chance to have diabetes. In their case, they should have to take extra precautions regarding their eating habits.

Despite the tremendous amount of medical information available to the public, many inaccurate ideas still persist about the nature and treatment of diabetes. It is very important for a diabetic to understand the myths and reality of type 2 diabetes.

Read more articles on Understand Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus