By Latha Raja Shankar, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico
Managing Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes can be overwhelming. It means regularly checking your blood sugar, making informed dietary choices, staying physically active and maintaining a healthy weight. It can also mean handling your insulin and other meds.
It can be a struggle to teach others about the disease when there’s so much misinformation about it. Dispelling myths and understanding the truth about diabetes can lead to healthier lifestyle choices and effective diabetes management. Let’s examine some prevalent misconceptions about diabetes and correct them.
Myth 1: Diabetes is not a serious disease.
A common myth is that diabetes is a mild condition that doesn’t require serious attention. In reality, unmanaged diabetes can lead to severe complications, including but not limited to heart attack, kidney failure, nerve damage and vision loss. Recognizing diabetes as a serious health issue is crucial for encouraging individuals to seek appropriate medical care and make lifestyle changes.
Myth 2: Only adults are affected by diabetes.
Many people also believe that diabetes only affects adults. While Type 2 diabetes has traditionally been associated with adults, it is increasingly being diagnosed in children and adolescents, largely due to rising obesity rates and sedentary lifestyles. Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune condition, typically appears in childhood or adolescence, but it can develop at any age.
Myth 3: Diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar.
One of the most common myths is that diabetes is caused solely by consuming too much sugar. While a high-sugar diet can contribute to obesity and increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, it’s not the only factor involved. Genetics, lack of physical activity and overall dietary patterns play significant roles in the development of diabetes. Furthermore, people with diabetes can still enjoy sweets in moderation provided they manage their overall carbohydrate intake and monitor their blood sugar levels.
Myth 4: Only overweight people get diabetes.
People who have a normal, healthy weight can experience insulin resistance and get Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes often affects people who are have a normal or even below normal body weight. A person isn’t healthy just because they’re thin. It’s equally true that a person isn’t ill just because they’re overweight. While there are some known family history and lifestyle risks, it’s still hard to predict who will get diabetes.
Understanding the truth about diabetes is crucial for prevention and effective management of the disease. By promoting accurate information and dismantling myths we can empower individuals to take control of their health, reduce the risk of complications and improve their overall quality of life. Learn more about effective diabetes management at connect.bcbsnm.com.
If you have a health question that you would like to be considered in Ask a Health Care Professional, please email [email protected]. BCBSNM will select questions that may appear. Questions will not be personally answered. The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of BCBSNM. This column is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical care.
