10 Myths about Diabetes
There are many myths surrounding diabetes and we’re setting the record straight. Find out the truth about diabetes myths.
10 Myths About Diabetes
Myth #1: “If you eat too much sugar you’ll get diabetes.”
Type 1 diabetes is genetic and not caused by lifestyle factors. Type 2 diabetes can be caused by lifestyle, including being overweight. While eating sugar does not cause Type 2 diabetes, sugary drinks have been linked to it. Avoiding soda, sweet tea and other sugary drinks may help reduce your risk.
Myth #2: “Many people have diabetes and are just fine so it can’t be a serious disease.”
Diabetes is a very serious disease. Two out of three people with diabetes die from cardiovascular-related issues. Diabetes kills more people than breast cancer and AIDS combined. Leading a healthy lifestyle and controlling diabetes can reduce your risks.
Myth #3: “If you’re overweight, you’ll eventually get diabetes.”
While being overweight is a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, there are other risk factors that help determine if you will get the disease. Family history, high blood pressure and being inactive are all contributing factors.
Myth #4: “Diabetics know when their blood sugar is getting too high or too low.”
While diabetics can have identifying symptoms for high and low blood sugar, they should not rely on their symptoms alone. Sometimes feeling shaky or dizzy can indicate low blood sugar, but illnesses can also mimic these symptoms. Some diabetics do not feel symptoms of low blood sugar. The only way to know your blood sugar level for sure, is to test.
Myth #5: “If you have diabetes, you can’t eat sweets or chocolates.”
As long as sweets are eaten in moderation and combined with a healthy meal plan, diabetics can eat sweets, desserts and chocolates.
Myth # 6: “If you have Type 2 diabetes and down the road your doctor prescribes insulin, you aren’t taking care of yourself.”
Type 2 diabetes is often a progressive disease, and over time the body may produce less and less insulin. Starting insulin helps to balance out the body’s low insulin production.
Myth #7: “Diabetes doesn’t run in my family and so I won’t become diabetic.”
Family history is only one risk factor of getting Type 2 diabetes. Other risk factors include weight, activity and high blood pressure.
Myth #8: “You have to lose a lot of weight to improve your diabetes.”
You don’t have to lose an extravagant amount of weight to help control your diabetes. Research has shown that losing just 7 percent of your body weight offers significant health benefits. For instance, if you weigh 200 pounds, you only need to lose 14 pounds to better control your diabetes.
Myth #9: “I shouldn’t exercise if I have diabetes because it will cause low blood sugar.”
Exercise is an important part of controlling diabetes. Discussing exercise and eating plans with your doctor will help you figure out which exercise routines will work for your body.
Myth #10: “If I don’t have symptoms, I don’t have diabetes.”
Type 2 diabetes often goes undiagnosed because there can be few to no symptoms at the beginning. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 8.1 million people in the U.S. have diabetes and don’t know it. The only way to know is to get tested.
Millions of people in the U.S. have diabetes and there isn’t a cure. Run Eugene Run is a charitable organization, raising money for diabetes research. Click here to donate.
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D. EUGENE THOMPSON, Marathon Runner
Eugene Thompson is a Type 2 Diabetic. After years of struggling with his weight, lack of energy and a little denial, Eugene got off the couch, started a diet and began running. Did he run! In 2015, he ran a total of 13 marathons in 11 different states. During his travel, he began talking to people about his Diabetes and what motivated him to run. And yes, he heard a lot of …Run Forest Run! That is what inspired RUN EUGENE RUN. Now, Eugene inspires others to get off the couch, run and eat right.
RUN EUGENE RUN is a charitable organization founded in in Hampton Roads Virginia, with a goal to educate and inspire those suffering from diabetes. Through running in marathons, coaching, dietary plans, public speaking and online messaging, RUN EUGENE RUN will reach those living with diabetes and help raise money for diabetes research.
Click here to contact RUN EUGENE RUN
Eugene Thompson is President / Founder/ Senior Architect of Ionic Design Studios in Virginia Beach and Richmond, Virginia. He lives in Virginia Beach with his wife, children and grandchildren.
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The information in this blog and on the RUN EUGENE RUN website is for information purposes only. The organization is a charity, not a medical organization. Please consult with your doctor before starting a new exercise program or changing your diet.
Sources: diabetes.org, healthline.com
