You aren\u2019t destined to develop these complications just because you have diabetes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taking good care of your health and achieving your blood sugar goals can significantly reduce your chances of developing complications.
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2) If you\u2019re overweight, you\u2019re automatically going to get type 2 diabetes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
While being overweight is a risk factor<\/a> for developing type 2 diabetes, it\u2019s not a guarantee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Several other factors increase your risk, such as: If you\u2019re overweight<\/a> and have other diabetes risk factors, you\u2019re more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than if you\u2019re just overweight without other risk factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Type 1 diabetes<\/a> is the least prevalent of all types, accounting for 5-10% of all people with diabetes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also referred to as juvenile diabetes, type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that destroys the insulin-secreting cells of the pancreas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It typically is diagnosed in childhood, but older people can develop type 1 diabetes as well. People with type 1 diabetes have to inject insulin because their body can\u2019t make any, whereas people with type 2 diabetes can still make some of their own insulin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n People with type 1 diabetes often use insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors, which aren\u2019t common among those with type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, there aren\u2019t as many well-known risk factors for type 1 diabetes, and it doesn\u2019t impact people based on weight like those with type 2 diabetes. However, women with a history of gestational diabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might think that diabetics can only have sugar-free foods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is definitely not the case and is a very unfortunate diabetes myth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While it\u2019s true that eating a lot of high-sugar foods when you have diabetes can make your blood sugar levels increase, it doesn\u2019t mean that you can\u2019t have any sweets. People are often discouraged when their healthcare provider tells them they need to switch from non-insulin diabetes medications to insulin. This means that despite your best efforts, your pancreas might not be able to produce enough insulin and require the help of insulin injections at some point. While carbohydrates significantly impact blood glucose levels, it doesn\u2019t mean that they have to be eliminated or overly restricted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Eating a moderate amount of carbohydrates and keeping your carbohydrate intake consistent throughout the day can help promote steady blood sugar levels. Those taking insulin (or other diabetes medications that can cause low blood glucose) for their diabetes should check with their healthcare provider or certified diabetes educator before trying a ketogenic diet, which is an extremely low carbohydrate diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A typical diabetes myth is that you can \u201ceat whatever you want\u201d and just inject enough insulin to cover the rise in blood sugar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This type of mentality can lead to high blood sugar levels and low blood sugar<\/a> from over-injecting insulin. Being physically active, managing blood pressure levels, and watching your cholesterol are equally important and can help reduce diabetes complications. People who have had diabetes for a long time can get better at recognizing the symptoms of high and low blood sugar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, that doesn\u2019t negate the importance of testing your blood sugar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing allows you to know exactly what your blood sugar level is, how it\u2019s changing and whether or not you need to seek medical attention. This results in a dangerous condition called hypoglycemia unawareness, which increases the likelihood of severe low blood sugar<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If blood sugar levels fall too low, you can become disoriented, lose consciousness and even go into a coma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So it\u2019s important to test your blood sugar if you think it might be low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Injectable insulin has been used for almost 100 years and is very safe to use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you need insulin to manage your blood sugar<\/a> and choose not to take it, the chances of health complications will increase. Whereas the risks involved with taking insulin are much lower in comparison. This can be avoided by gradually adjusting insulin and working with a certified diabetes educator and your regular healthcare provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being active and maintaining a healthy weight can drastically reduce your diabetes risk. However, no one is immune from developing diabetes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Around 10-15% of people with diabetes are at a healthy weight; when this occurs, people often refer to it as \u201clean diabetes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n People that are lean are also more likely to have type 1.5 diabetes<\/a>. This is the unofficial term for a condition called Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA). <\/p>\n\n\n\n LADA<\/a> is like type 1 diabetes but tends to occur in adulthood versus childhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Diabetes is a chronic disease that is increasing in prevalence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a serious disease that comes with numerous risks and complications. But you can also manage diabetes effectively through healthy lifestyle habits and medication<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many diabetes myths have been circulating, many of them potentially harmful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Understanding how diabetes works, along with managing diabetes<\/a>, can help you stay informed and better identify diabetes myths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n3) All types of diabetes are the same<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Type 1 diabetes has similar symptoms as type 2 diabetes<\/a>, but it is usually managed differently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy and usually goes away after birth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"diabetes](\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Diabetes-In-Line-Ad-V2-1.png\")
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n4) You can\u2019t eat any sugar if you have diabetes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Planning a healthy diet that includes both healthy foods and foods like sweets in moderation is a great way to strike a balance without deprivation or restriction, which can result in disordered eating.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n5) If you need insulin injections it means you\u2019ve failed at managing your diabetes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease and can lead to insulin deficiency over time, especially for those who have had the disease for many years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n6) You have to follow a very low-carbohydrate diet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Some diabetics may choose to follow a low-carbohydrate diet, which is acceptable as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n7) Taking insulin means you don\u2019t have to make any lifestyle changes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
While it\u2019s true that injecting insulin helps to lower blood sugar and manage diabetes, there are many other essential aspects of diabetes management<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n8) You can tell when your blood sugar levels are high or low, so there\u2019s no need to test<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Symptoms of low blood sugar<\/a> can become more difficult to sense over time, especially if you have repeated episodes of low blood sugar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n9) Insulin will harm you<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The main risk of using insulin is hypoglycemia<\/a>, or low blood sugar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n10) If you\u2019re active and at a healthy weight, you can\u2019t get diabetes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Explore More<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"diabetes-self-management\"](\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Diabetes-Management-2-1024x256.jpg\")
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