Myths about diabetes that are unwise to believe in the 21st century
A lot is already known about this disease today.
A diagnosis of diabetes can change your entire life. It can also be confusing: is diabetes really caused by eating too much sugar? And what does a diagnosis of diabetes mean for your diet? There are so many superstitions about it. MigNews reports this with reference to FBC.net.ua. Myths about diabetes not only mislead us, but also endanger the health and lives of many people.
Therefore, we suggest that you analyze the most common of them and learn the true facts about this disease.
Diabetes Myths: Diabetes Requires Special Foods
Foods such as chocolate, cakes, and cookies intended for people with diabetes may be sugar-free. But that doesn't make them a good choice. They are still high in saturated fat and calories. And the sweetener used can have a laxative effect if you eat too much of it.
In addition, such products are often more expensive. It is better to save money and occasionally use small amounts of standard products.
Myth 2: People with diabetes should not eat fruit
Many people believe that fruit is forbidden for people with diabetes. But this is not so, Source: unsplash.com
Fruit is a healthy choice and, along with vegetables, should make up a large part of a healthy, balanced diet. Fruits contain more natural sugars than vegetables. But they're still lower in sugar than cakes, cookies, and candies, and they also contain other nutrients and fiber.
If you have high blood glucose, it's unlikely that your diet is the problem fruits. Before giving up fruit, consider other sources of sugar in your diet.
Diabetes Myths: Diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar
Type 1 diabetes is not related to diet or lifestyle. It occurs when the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin are destroyed by the immune system.
It is also incorrect to say that type 2 diabetes is caused by sugar. However, you are more likely to develop this type of diabetes if you are overweight or obese. A diet high in sugar is often high in calories. And too many calories can lead to weight gain.
In many countries, people eat more sugar than recommended. So most of us can benefit from cutting back on sugary treats, choosing sugar-free drinks, and checking ingredient lists for added sugars.
Myth 4: Type 2 diabetes is a “mild” diabetes
Even if you don't need to take medication to control it, type 2 diabetes is not an easy form of diabetes. It's important to keep your condition under good control to avoid complications. These can include vision loss and even limb amputation, as well as an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
Diabetes myths: You can't eat sweets with diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes and eat a lot of sweets, you will have a hard time controlling your blood sugar levels and weight. This doesn't mean you have to cut out all sweet treats from your diet. But let them not be every day, but from time to time, advises a nutritionist.
Myth 6: People with diabetes have to follow a special diet
The diet for people with diabetes is the same as for everyone else – a healthy, balanced diet. It includes plenty of fruit and vegetables, as well as legumes, fish, eggs, lean meats and low-fat dairy products.
Limit your intake of foods such as cakes, biscuits and sweets. Try to drink sugar-free drinks such as water and unsweetened tea or coffee.
Diabetes myths: You can't drink alcohol if you have diabetes
You can drink alcohol with diabetes, but it is important to follow the recommendations. And this is no more than 14 units per week. If you drink that much, make sure you have a few alcohol-free days a week.
If you're trying to lose weight, remember that alcoholic beverages can add a lot of calories to your diet, as well as stimulate appetite and reduce the level of prohibitions. This makes it difficult to stick to healthy eating plans.
Some diabetes medications (insulin or sulfonylureas) may increase the chance of hypotension if you drink alcohol. And this effect can last up to 24 hours after use. So make sure you're prepared and that the people you're with know about it.
Myth 8: Avoiding sugar is the most important thing when you have diabetes
Foods such as fruits, vegetables, milk and dairy products contain natural sugars. So you should include them in your diet.
You should avoid sugary foods that contain few nutrients other than calories. These include foods such as sweets and drinks that are high in sugar, as well as fatty and sugary foods such as cakes, cookies and chocolate.
Sugar can also be added to foods that are otherwise nutritious. Think cereals, milk drinks and yogurts with powdered sugar, and fruits preserved in syrup. Choose sugar-free or sugar-added foods to get nutrients without the extra sugar.
Does the glycemic index really matter? Here we talked about it and products with a high GI in detail.
