7 Frequently Heard Myths About Diabetes

There is a great deal of misinformation surrounding diabetes and here we look at 7 commonly heard diabetes myths:

� Diabetes sufferers must eat a special diabetic diet. So called 'Diabetic' versions of some foods which are commonly sold in health food stores are nothing more than a marketing ploy. People with diabetes should merely eat a normal balanced diet which is low in fat and which contains only moderate levels of both suager and salt.

� People with diabetes are prone to catching flu and colds. There is no evidence to show that individuals with diabetes are any more or less likely than anybody else to catch flu or a cold. Diabetics should however do their best to avoid such illnesses (by, for example, having an annual flu shot) as illnesses of this type can interfere with levels of blood sugar, and therefore make the management of diabetes more difficult.

� Consuming excessive sugar can cause diabetes. In spite of the fact that the causes of diabetes are not entirely understood, it is known that too much sugar consumption is not one of them. Having said this, consuming too much sugar could well lead to a person gaining weight, which is most certainly a factor in increasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It is however not the sugar but the excess weight that you are carrying that may lead to diabetes.

� People with diabetes should eat only very small amounts of carbohydrate. Carbohydrates, which are found in a variety of foods including beans, bread, cereals, pasta and rice and from which the body gets much of the glucose required for energy, are a very important part of our diet, whether or not we are diabetic. Such foods also contain a lot of our essential fiber intake. The secret for people with diabetes is simply to ensure that you balance carbohydrates with other food items and that portions are kept to a reasonable size.

� Diabetics cannot eat chocolate or candy. There is no reason at all why diabetics should not eat chocolate and candy, and indeed cakes and sweet desserts, providing they are taken in moderation and are merely one single element of a normal and healthy diet plan.

� Diabetes is a contagious disease. This is not true. It is thought however that individuals with diabetes have a genetic predisposition to the condition and that it may be triggered by such things as viruses and drugs, which includes antibiotics. It is possible therefore that contracting a common illness, or treating such illnesses with antibiotics, might lead to diabetes.

� Taking insulin can cause high blood pressure and hardened arteries. Early tests lead to the suggestion that insulin may play a part in triggering processes associated with the development of hardened arteries but this has been shown not to be the case and there is no evidence that insulin causes either high blood pressure or hardened arteries.

The list of myths which are associated with diabetes of course goes on and on, however the 7 myths listed here are without doubt the most often encountered and, before too much longer, will hopefully be liad to rest.

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For more information on all aspects of diabetes including such things as type 2 diabetes symptoms and diabetes recipes please visit Diabetes-Treatment-And-Cure.com

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