A great deal of misinformation surrounds diabetes and here are 7 commonly heard diabetes myths:
� Diabetics are not able to eat candy or chocolate. There is absolutely no reason why diabetics should not eat candy and chocolate, and indeed sweet desserts and cakes, provided these are taken in reasonable small quantities and are just one element of a normal and healthy diet plan.
� Diabetes sufferers should only eat very small quantities of carbohydrate. Carbohydrates, which are found in a variety of foods including bread, beans, cereals, pasta and rice and from which the body gets much of the glucose needed for energy, are a very important element of our diet, whether or not we are diabetic. These foods also contain a lot of our essential fiber intake. The secret for diabetes sufferers is simply to ensure that you balance carbohydrates with other foods and that your food portions are kept to a reasonable size.
� Diabetes is contagious. There is no truth in this at all. It is believed however that individuals with diabetes have a genetic predisposition to the disease and that it might be set off 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, could lead to the onset of diabetes.
� Individuals suffering from are required to eat a special diabetic diet. So called 'Diabetic' versions of certain foods that are often sold in health food stores are nothing more than a simple marketing ploy. Diabetes sufferers should merely eat a normal balanced diet that is low in fat and that contains only moderate levels of suager and salt.
� Taking insulin can result in high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries. Early tests lead to the belief that insulin might play a part in triggering processes that are 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.
� Eating too much sugar can cause diabetes. In spite of the fact that the causes of diabetes are not entirely understood, it is known that excessive sugar consumption is not one of them. This said, consuming excessive sugar could well lead to an individual gaining weight, which is certainly a factor in increasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. However, it is not the sugar but the excess weight that you are carrying that may lead to diabetes.
� Diabetes sufferers are prone to flu and colds. There is absolutely no evidence to demonstrate that people with diabetes are any more likely than anybody else to catch a cold or flu. Diabetics ought to however try their best to avoid such illnesses (for example by having an annual flu shot) as illnesses of this nature can interfere with levels of blood sugar, and thus make managing diabetes that much more difficult.
The list of myths which are associated with diabetes goes on and on, but the 7 listed here are undoubtedly the most often heard and, before long, will hopefully be put to rest.
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