As part of American Diabetes Month and raising awareness about preventing and treating diabetes, Anath Shalev, director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Diabetes Center, debunks common and costly diabetes myths:
Video: http://youtu.be/ohzBHBv874k
Sweets cause diabetes.
False. OK, this one's a "gimme." Most people know the right answer, but there are still some who think sugary foods actually cause diabetes. (The real culprits are obesity and too little exercise.)
There are no thin diabetics.
Wrong. Obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, but people with type 1 or other less common forms of diabetes are typically lean.
Diabetics cannot play sports.
Not true. With proper management, diabetics can have active lives and can even be triathletes.
Juvenile, or type 1, diabetes doesn't affect adults.
False. Type 1 is more common in the young but can occur at any age.
Type 2 diabetics should avoid insulin shots for as long as possible.
False. Some think taking insulin injections means "the beginning of the end." The truth is, injections are no biggie — they're just another way of helping your body cope with diabetes.
Kids who have type 1 diabetes should never eat anything sweet.
False. In the past, that was the prevailing belief, but now, with the right diabetes-management modifications, even type 1 kids can enjoy a slice of birthday cake or some Halloween candy.
You're doomed to develop diabetes if type 2 runs in your family and you're getting fat.
False. You may have the "constellation of genes" that puts you at higher risk, Shalev says, but lifestyle modifications, monitoring and early intervention can delay or even prevent type 2 diabetes.
BY PEGGY NOONA, Read more:
http://www.theprovince.com/health/believe+these+myths+about+diabetes/5763143/story.html#ixzz1ek42J8kE
Video: http://youtu.be/ohzBHBv874k
Sweets cause diabetes.
False. OK, this one's a "gimme." Most people know the right answer, but there are still some who think sugary foods actually cause diabetes. (The real culprits are obesity and too little exercise.)
There are no thin diabetics.
Wrong. Obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, but people with type 1 or other less common forms of diabetes are typically lean.
Diabetics cannot play sports.
Not true. With proper management, diabetics can have active lives and can even be triathletes.
Juvenile, or type 1, diabetes doesn't affect adults.
False. Type 1 is more common in the young but can occur at any age.
Type 2 diabetics should avoid insulin shots for as long as possible.
False. Some think taking insulin injections means "the beginning of the end." The truth is, injections are no biggie — they're just another way of helping your body cope with diabetes.
Kids who have type 1 diabetes should never eat anything sweet.
False. In the past, that was the prevailing belief, but now, with the right diabetes-management modifications, even type 1 kids can enjoy a slice of birthday cake or some Halloween candy.
You're doomed to develop diabetes if type 2 runs in your family and you're getting fat.
False. You may have the "constellation of genes" that puts you at higher risk, Shalev says, but lifestyle modifications, monitoring and early intervention can delay or even prevent type 2 diabetes.
BY PEGGY NOONA, Read more:
http://www.theprovince.com/health/believe+these+myths+about+diabetes/5763143/story.html#ixzz1ek42J8kE
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