Myth vs. Fact About DIABETES

By: Melody Dizon

 

November – Ahhhhh, the beauty of fall foliage brings about such calming reassurance that the changing colors of nature add life, warmth and a deep sense of appreciation of having to reside in a state that gets to experience four seasons. Ask me winter time and I might have another answer for you.

Hence, because November is Diabetes Awareness Month, I’d like to stress on its major points. ..

Myth: Diabetes is not that serious of a disease.

Fact: Diabetes actually cause more deaths a year than breast cancer and AIDS combined. Having diabetes nearly doubles your chance of having a heart attack but with good blood sugar control, you can reduce your risks for diabetes complications. Myth: If you are overweight or obese, you will eventually develop type 2 Diabetes.

Fact: Being overweight is a risk factor for developing this disease, but other risk factors such as family history, ethnicity and age also play a role. Most overweight people never develop type 2 diabetes, and many people with type 2 diabetes are at a normal weight or only moderately overweight.

Myth: Eating too much sugar causes diabetes.

Fact: The answer is not so simple. Type 1 diabetes is caused by genetics and unknown factors that trigger the onset of the disease; type 2 diabetes is caused by genetics and lifestyle factors.

Myth: People with diabetes should eat special diabetic foods.

Fact: A healthy meal plan for people with diabetes is generally the same as a healthy diet for anyone – low in saturated and trans fat, moderate in salt and sugar, with meals based on lean protein, non-starchy vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and fruit.

Myth: If you have diabetes, you should only eat small amounts of starchy foods, such as bread, potatoes and pasta.

Fact: Starchy foods can be part of a healthy meal plan, but portion size is key. Whole grain breads, cereals, pasta, rice and starchy vegetables like potatoes, yams, peas and corn can be included in your meals and snacks. In addition to these starchy foods, fruits, beans, milk, yogurt, and sweets are also sources of carbohydrate that you need to count in your meal plan.

Myth: People with diabetes can’t eat sweets or chocolate.

Fact: If eaten as part of a healthy meal plan, or combined with exercise, sweets and desserts can be eaten by people with diabetes. They are no more “off limits” to people with diabetes than they are to people without diabetes.

Myth: You can catch diabetes from someone else.

Fact: No. Although we don’t know exactly why some people develop diabetes, we know diabetes is not contagious. It can’t be caught like a cold or flu. There seems to be some genetic link in diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes.

Myth: People with diabetes are more likely to get colds and other illnesses.

Fact: You are no more likely to get a cold or another illness if you have diabetes. However, people with diabetes are advised to get flu shots. This is because any illness can make diabetes more difficult to control, and people with diabetes who do get the flu are more likely than others to go on to develop serious complications.

Myth: Fruit is a healthy food. Therefore, it is ok to eat as much of it as you wish.

Fact: Fruit is a healthy food. It contains fiber and lots of vitamins and minerals. Because fruits contain carbohydrates, they need to be included in your meal plan. Certain fruits are high in carbohydrates, which causes an associated spike in blood sugar. Large fruits have large amounts of carbs namely mangoes, pears, apples, bananas. Low-carb fruits are less likely to spike blood sugar, and are smaller in size namely blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and grapes.

Facts

Insulin should ideally be refrigerated, but in the event of a power outage should be kept cool; if frozen, insulin cannot be used safely at all.

Diabetes leads to damage to arteries making them more susceptible for hardening (atherosclerosis). Atherosclerosis can lead to high blood pressure.

Water is a healthy choice, and it can be infused with flavors by putting it in the refrigerator with cucumbers, strawberries or mint leaves.

Strength training increases the body’s insulin sensitivity and lowers blood glucose levels. It also maintains strong bones and muscles overall.

Splenda®, Sweet’N’Low®, and Equal® are sugar substitutes, used to sweeten foods and beverages without using regular table sugar (sucrose) and can help control blood glucose levels. Saccharin is the chemical name for Sweet’N’Low®. It is FDA approved and can be up to 700 times sweeter than sugar. A single can of Coca-Cola® has 140 calories and exceeds the recommended amount of added sugar (130 calories) in a 2,000-calorie daily diet. One can of regular soda has 140-150 calories, all from sugar. That equals about 10 teaspoons of sugar. Always read labels, folks.

The flu can affect a diabetic person’s blood sugar, so continuing insulin (sometimes at adjusted doses), is important even if you are not eating as much.

Snacks in between meals can help prevent spikes or low readings on your blood glucose levels.

Once again, our avid readers, it’s about making healthy choices. You are what you eat. Most Americans have Type 2 diabetes largely from the food we eat, our activity levels, being aware of what our body is telling us, visiting our primary doctor, early detection and screening, adhering to the treatment plan and cooperating with your healthcare team professionals.

THAT IS A FACT.

Maraming salamat po sa inyong pagsubaybay at suporta sa “UNCHAINED MELODY”. If there are any issues that you want me to tackle, you can email me at supremehh3scan@gmail.com and I would gladly address them.