Living With Diabetes Is Possible: Diabetic Myths Unravelled

The idea of being diagnosed with diabetes may sound incredibly concerning and anxiety inducing for many people worldwide. However, this disease - while serious - is definitely a chronic condition that people can live with and even thrive. There are a number of different steps you'll need to take if you have been diagnosed with diabetes. First, you will need to learn more about this chronic disease. There are three types of diabetes that you will need to know about.

Type 1 diabetes occurs when your body does not produce the hormone used to break down sugar, while Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body is not able to use that hormone in a sufficient way. Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women during their pregnancy and often goes away after giving birth.

When attempting to learn about diabetes, it is vital to speak with your doctor and your healthcare team including a nutritionist, eye doctor, foot doctor, pharmacist, nurse practitioner, and mental health professional. Next, you will want to know your own blood pressure levels, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar level. Lastly, you'll need to learn how to live with your diabetes. This includes participating in stress-relieving activities such as gardening or listening to music, eating nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grain bread, and low-fat milk, remaining physically active such as 30-minute walks, keeping track of your blood sugar level, and taking your medicine.

The Unfounded Myths Surrounding Diabetes

While it is very possible to live with diabetes on a day-to-day basis, there are a number of different myths that bring fear into patients who are first diagnosed with this chronic disease. These myths include:

• Eating too many sweet and sugar-filled foods will cause Type 2 diabetes - In reality, sugar does not increase someone's risk of Type 2 diabetes. However, being overweight or obese does increase the risk of different types of diabetes. Consuming too many calories and sugars does potentially raise people's weight, which can lead to a diabetes diagnosis.
• Being overweight will definitely lead to diabetes - While being overweight is a risk factor for diabetes, there are various steps you can take to decrease your risk and there are many other factors that can lead to this disease. Family history and age also play a role. Additionally, there are people at a normal weight who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
• Excessive exercise is dangerous for people with diabetes - This is clearly not true. There are many studies that have proven regular exercise is crucial to help diabetes patients by lowering their blood sugar levels. If you've been diagnosed with this chronic condition, talk to your doctor about a good exercise plan. The only time this can be a risk is when blood sugar is already low and then overdoing severe exercise situations.
• Diabetes has no symptoms - Many think that only a doctor can diagnose diabetes and no symptoms will appear. While symptoms may be subtle, there are ways that you may be able to notice if you have diabetes. For example, you may be thirsty even if you've been drinking water. You may be drinking more water than usual and going to the bathroom frequently. You may be hungry and tired more often and you might be losing weight for no reason. If you have any of these symptoms, be sure to see your doctor.

Questions and Answers Regarding Diabetes

Even after reading all of this information about diabetes, you may still have a number of different questions. Below are the most common questions people have regarding this chronic disease.

Q: How is diabetes diagnosed?

A: Diabetes is diagnosed by using multiple blood tests and having them analyzed at a laboratory. In particular, your blood sugar levels will be checked.

Q: How should hypoglycemia, which means low blood sugar levels, be treated?

A: Low blood sugar levels are dangerous and need to be treated immediately. The meter can be used to determine your sugar levels. If it is low, you will need to eat a fast-acting carbohydrate such as a soft drink or a tablespoon of honey. This should be followed by a small amount of slower acting carbs like a piece of bread. You can also move up your next meal if you were not intending to eat in the near future.

Q: What causes high blood sugar levels?

A: Higher levels in your blood sugar can be caused when your medications, food, and physical activity are unbalanced. Stress and other illnesses can lead to high blood sugar levels.

Q: What Should I Do if My Blood Sugar Levels are Too High?