Debunking 4 Common Myths About Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease that can decrease your quality of life and shorten your lifespan. But understanding how to properly manage the condition isn’t always easy, especially when you’re faced with false and conflicting information. 

At Elk Medical in Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Saka Kazeem views his role as your partner in your health and wellness journey. We’re happy to deliver fact-based health information to help you make the best possible choices for yourself and your loved ones. 

Let’s explore some common myths about diabetes.

Myth #1: Eating too much sugar causes diabetes

Diabetes is closely linked to glucose, a type of sugar your body creates and circulates in your blood to fuel your cells. And it’s true that the foods you eat directly impact your blood sugar. 

But categorizing sugar as the cause or enemy of diabetes isn’t accurate. 

Insulin, a hormone your pancreas produces naturally, enables glucose to enter your cells and fuel many bodily functions. Diabetes develops when your body either can’t produce enough insulin or make effective use of the insulin your pancreas does produce. 

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition that happens when your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy pancreas cells. Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease, is closely linked to being overweight or obese. 

Eating too much sugar can increase your risk of diabetes, but it isn’t the sole cause. It’s worth noting that many healthy foods have natural sugars. It’s the highly processed foods with added sugars that cause problems. 

Myth #2: All overweight people develop diabetes

Carrying significant extra weight absolutely increases your risk of Type 2 diabetes. But that doesn’t mean everyone who’s overweight develops this chronic health condition. 

Being overweight or obese increases your risk of numerous chronic health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, depression, hypertension, and high cholesterol. So, striving to reach and maintain a healthy weight is always a worthwhile health goal. 

But just because you’re overweight doesn’t guarantee a diabetes diagnosis. Other factors are at play, including your activity levels, age, and genetic makeup. 

Myth #3: People with diabetes have to follow a special diet

If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, or if blood testing shows you’re at a high risk for the disease, then your diet should be the first place you look to make positive changes. 

But that’s true for virtually every chronic health condition. And it’s also true for people who are generally healthy and want to maintain their health and reduce their risk of chronic disease. 

The dietary guidelines for those with diabetes are the same as for all people. A diet rich in fruit, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean proteins delivers the best results. A diet heavy in saturated fat, added sugars, and highly processed foods increases your risk of health woes. 

Myth #4: Diabetes isn’t a serious disease

Many people think diabetes isn’t as much of a health risk as, say, heart disease or hypertension. However, a diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes is significant and deserves your focus. 

The damage that diabetes does to your body isn’t always readily apparent, especially in the early stages. But many people with diabetes experience problems like vision loss, neuropathy, sexual dysfunction, and more. 

Living with diabetes can take years off your life. That’s why finding a good treatment plan is crucial. 

Don’t postpone diabetes care

If you or a loved one has diabetes, finding a health practitioner you can trust should be a top priority. Dr. Kazeem takes the time to understand the health needs of those in his care.

Many residents of Crown Heights rely on the team at Elk Medical for personalized chronic disease management, including diabetes care. If you’d like to learn more about these services, reach out to our office today to schedule a visit.