World Diabetes Day 2023: Myths And Facts About Diabetes

World Diabetes Day, observed annually on November 14th, is a global campaign that aims to raise awareness about diabetes, its prevention, management, and the urgent need for better healthcare for those affected by the condition. In honour of World Diabetes Day 2023, it’s essential to dispel myths and present the facts about diabetes. This chronic medical condition affects millions of people worldwide, and understanding the truths behind it is the first step toward better prevention and management. Let’s delve into the myths and facts about diabetes to promote a deeper understanding of this prevalent health issue.

Shivani Bajwa, Founder, YogaSutra Holistic Living, India’s Leading Functional Medicine Health Clinic debunks myths surrounding diabetes

Myth 1: No one in my family has diabetes, so I won’t get the disease 

Fact: Many people with diabetes are today in the type 2 diabetic category which is also called insulin resistance It does not come from a genetic issue, it’s more of your lifestyle choices and certain conditions can increase your risk for type 2 diabetes more than type 1 diabetes. These include: Alcohol, smoking, GMO foods, exposed to too many late nights, stress, eating junk food & having fatty liver, PCOS, Estrogen dominance

Myth 2: I will likely develop diabetes because I am overweight

Fact: Excess weight indeed increases your chance of having diabetes. However, many people who are overweight and have good lifestyle choices may still overlook the type 2 diabetes issue. And people who may have normal weight may still have poor lifestyle choices & are prone to get diabetes.

Myth 3: I eat a lot of sugar, so I am worried I’ll get diabetes

Fact: Eating sugar does not cause diabetes. But you should still cut back on sweets and sugary beverages. This confusion may come from the fact that when you eat food, it is converted into a sugar called glucose. Glucose, also called blood sugar, is a source of energy for the body. Insulin moves glucose from the blood into the cells so it can be used for energy. With diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin, or the body does not use insulin well. As a result, the extra sugar stays in the blood, so the blood glucose (blood sugar) level increases.

For people who do not have diabetes, the main problem with eating a lot of sugar and drinking sugar-sweetened beverages is that it can make you overweight. And being overweight does increase your risk for diabetes.

Myth 4: I can stop taking diabetes medicines once my blood sugar is under control.

Fact: Some people with type 2 diabetes can control their blood sugar without medicine by losing weight, eating a healthy diet, and getting regular exercise. But diabetes is a progressive disease, and over time, even if you are doing all you can to stay healthy, you may need medicine to keep your blood sugar within your target range. Certain supplements mimic or do the job of diabetic medicine like metformin to reduce fatty liver and improve gut lining so that the absorption of the blood glucose is better in your body & you don’t store up all this blood glucose in your blood & create it into excess fat & cause more damage to your heart in the future.