Facts or Myths: Common Myths about Diabetes Checked and Verified

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar. According to Healthline, this happens because the body either does not produce enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin it makes. Insulin is a hormone that moves sugar from the blood into your cells to be stored or used for energy. Diabetes has three common types, all of which can affect women. Type 1 Diabetes: The body cannot produce enough insulin due to an autoimmune dysfunction. Type 2 Diabetes: This is the most common type that occurs when the body is unable to properly produce or use insulin. Gestational Diabetes: This type affects millions of women during pregnancy. It is another health issue to worry about, in addition to high blood pressure. It is caused by pregnancy. But not all pregnant women develop gestational diabetes. Research shows that it occurs in approximately 3-9% of pregnancies. Here are some common myths about diabetes that have been checked and verified

Gestational diabetes is permanent – Misleading

According to Medical News Today, “Gestational diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin during pregnancy. Insulin is a hormone responsible for helping the body process blood sugar and turn it into energy.”In addition to other changes like weight gain, the body produces more hormones during pregnancy, which may result in insulin resistance. This means that insulin is not used efficiently by the body. Although the majority of people overcome insulin resistance, almost everyone develops some level of insulin resistance while pregnant.

In most cases, gestational diabetes resolves on its own after pregnancy for those who do not develop diabetes during pregnancy. Generally, the problem goes away after childbirth. However, some people will still have diabetes after giving birth, and their diagnosis usually shifts to type 2 diabetes at that point.
The American Diabetes Association notes that diabetes treatment aims to keep blood glucose (blood sugar) levels normal, and typically involves a combination of specialised meal planning, regular physical activity, daily blood glucose monitoring, and insulin injections as needed.
Only overweight people have diabetes – Misleading

Being overweight is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, but it is not the sole factor. Many people with normal weight have diabetes, and many overweight individuals remain diabetes-free.
A study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found out that “Despite the high rate of overweight and obesity, only slightly more than half of type 1 diabetes patients in the overweight or obese category reported receiving doctors’ recommendations to increase physical activity or reduce fat intake or overall calories.”
Notably, researchers and healthcare professionals agree that high cholesterol can affect anyone. Genetic factors, rather than weight, largely determine cholesterol issues.

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Eating sugar causes diabetes – False
According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), “eating too much sugar alone doesn’t cause diabetes, but it may be a contributing factor in some cases.

Type 1 diabetes is typically caused when an environmental trigger provokes a genetic predisposition for diabetes to express itself. Type 2 diabetes is often triggered by various risk factors, including genetics and certain lifestyle choices.”
To help prevent diabetes, the ADA recommends avoiding sugar-sweetened drinks, such as soda and fruit punch, when possible, as they are high in empty calories, and can lead to a higher risk of diabetes.
Fruit is bad – False
A common myth about diabetes is that certain foods are off-limits because they are ‘too sweet.’ However, while it is true that some fruits contain more sugar than others, that does not mean they are entirely forbidden to people with diabetes.
British Heart Foundation explains that, “Fruit is a healthy choice and along with vegetables, should form a large part of a healthy balanced diet. Fruit is higher in natural sugars than vegetables, but is still lower in sugar than cakes, biscuits and sweets, and it contains other nutrients and fiber. If your blood glucose levels are high, it is unlikely that it’s the fruit in your diet that is the problem. Look at other sources of sugar in your diet before you cut down on fruit.”