There are many type 1 diabetes misconceptions that are still believed by the general public. Let’s look at some diabetes facts and fiction.
Diabetes fiction – Insulin cures diabetes.
Diabetes facts – Taking insulin doesn’t ever cure diabetes. It is necessary to keep the type 1 diabetic alive though. There is still not a cure for type 1 diabetes.
Diabetes fiction – Diabetics can’t participate in sports
Diabetes facts – Physical exercise and activity is actually important for the good health of a diabetic. A regular exercise program, or a regimen involved in organized sports practice, will help keep blood sugar levels lower. There are many examples of very successful athletes who are diabetic. The legendary hockey player Bobby Clarke and Olympic Gold Medal swimmer Gary Hall are just two examples. And in high schools and colleges around the world, diabetic participants compete successfully without incident.
Diabetes fiction – Diabetics can’t eat sweets
Diabetic facts – Sweets can fit into a healthy diet of any diabetic, just as with non-diabetics. But just like non-diabetics, sweets should be eaten in moderation to avoid weight gain, which is a diabetes risk factor. And there are times when a diabetic’s blood sugar drops to a dangerously low level, bringing about the onset of hypoglycemia. In this case, the surest way to get the blood sugar back to a healthy level is to drink a sweet soda or eat a sweet candy.
Diabetes fiction – Women with diabetes shouldn’t get pregnant.
Diabetes facts – A diabetic pregnancy does require some extra care and attention, but a diabetic woman can get pregnant and deliver a healthy baby at full-term. It requires strict control of blood sugar levels throughout the pregnancy, and a doctor’s advice and monitoring is highly recommended before becoming pregnant. But with the right medical advice and self-management, the outlook for pregnant women with diabetes is better today than it was even 20 years ago.
Diabetes fiction – Children don’t get type 2 diabetes
Diabetes facts – Unfortunately, the rate of type 2 diabetes is on the rise worldwide at an exponential pace. It could even be considered epidemic in recent years. Childhood obesity is thought to be a contributing factor to this rise, and other environmental factors are being studied to find the cause for the alarming rise.
Arm Yourself with Knowledge, and Complications from Diabetes Aren’t Inevitable.
If you get all the diabetic facts you can, research your own condition, and control your blood sugar strictly, complications from the disease are not inevitable. Unless you are genetically pre-disposed to a certain complication, you can do something to reduce the damage diabetes does to your body. Weight control and proper diet is critical, as is physical activity. Don’t be a couch potato. Learn your alternatives. Find out what is good for you and what things you have control over – and do something about it. You don’t have to be a victim! Arm yourself with diabetes facts, and you can live a relatively normal, healthy life.
