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While diabetes can be traced back to Egypt in 1550 BC, the condition is still deeply misunderstood nearly 4,000 years later. Here are a few common misconceptions, debunked.
Technology and the internet are removing the mystery surrounding diabetes for both Type 1 and Type 2 patients.
With information always available at our fingertips, online communities spanning the globe, and body monitors tracking our blood sugar at all moments of the day, diabetics are finding it easier to manage the condition.
Somehow though, we’re still learning it all alone.
The World Health Organization says between 1980 and 2014 the global figure of diabetics rose from 108 million to 422 million. Chances are you know someone – or someone who knows someone – who has diabetes.
Yet it’s equally possible you don’t know very much about its symptoms or its treatments. Much like I did before I was diagnosed with Type 1, it’s possible you think it only affects older adults, or those with an inactive lifestyle. But there’s much more to that (and yes, we can still eat sugar).
‘You must have eaten a lot of sugar as a child’
Although it is largely a consequence of years of limited exercise and a poor diet, Type 2 diabetes is not a direct consequence of “eating too much sugar”.
It is when the body can’t get proper use of the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, which regulates how much glucose enters the bloodstream. It’s key to get your energy levels up, but too much of it can cause dizzy spells and fainting.
Type 1 diabetes is when – for still no known reason – your pancreas stops making enough insulin to regulate your glucose.
It’s also important to note that while diabetics are told to maintain their blood sugar levels, this isn’t what most people know as “sugar”. This refers to the glucose in our blood, which we get from carbohydrates. Unfortunately, most things we consume will contain glucose.
From milk, to pasta, to almonds and even kiwis – there is no escape from glucose, unless you settle for a lifetime of iceberg salads and carb-free, conventional meat and fish meals.
Although, you might find that will eventually hurt your body, as well as the planet.
‘Do you have to watch what you eat?’
This follows on from the last myth. While the answer is – to a certain extent – yes, there is no one food for all diabetics. Every person, whether they are Type 1 or Type 2, will choose to manage their diets differently.
When it comes to Type 1, it’s important to ensure that whatever you eat, you inject enough units of insulin to balance out the glucose levels from your meal.
Type 2 might be a little stricter, especially if you are overweight or highly inactive. But, like any other human, both types need to maintain a balanced diet and regularly exercise to maximise their chances of living a healthy life.
