February 12, 2014

Mixed-up Diabetes Myths – Part 1

Part 1 of 2 parts

Too many people believe these myths and do not understand what diabetes is and what is required by people with diabetes. This is then spread by the people with no understanding and knowledge of diabetes to literally make the life of people with diabetes hell to live everyday. They become accusatory to people with diabetes and will not listen to the truth. This is done to people with all types of diabetes, but I am writing this for mainly people with type 2 diabetes.

The following myths WebMD says are associated with diabetes:
#1. Eating too much sugar causes diabetes. It would be great if this was true and there would be an easy way to prevent diabetes. But this is untrue and the causes of diabetes are not totally understood. Diabetes normally starts because some function that the body does normally slows down or becomes nearly unfunctional. When you eat food, it is broken down into glucose. This means that all food is handled this way. Glucose is the food for cells and without adequate insulin, it will not enter the individual cells and they become starved for fuel that the body needs.

#2. There are too many rules in a diabetes diet. First, there is not a specific diabetes diet. The person with diabetes needs to use his/her meter to determine how foods affect the body and the blood glucose levels. This is becoming tougher all the time with the doctors, insurers, and government always wanting to limit the testing supplies. Always remember that what works for one person, may not work for you. You need to determine the food that works for you and learn to limit the quantity of food you consume based on the results of your meter. The level of your exercise, the medication(s) you are taking need to be determined to keep your blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible.

#3. Carbohydrates are bad for diabetes. This one is more true than false. Our dietitians push carbohydrates at us as being necessary and the foundation of a healthy diabetes diet. The foregoing sentence is the false part and this is because they have a conflict of interest because they are a puppet of Big Food. More people are finding that food plans that limit carbohydrates are healthier and help manage diabetes.

The dietitians always bring the same dogma to the table that people that don't consume many carbohydrates, especially whole grains, are missing many essential nutrients, meaning vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They might be believed if people hadn't learned that there are other foods lower in carbohydrates and can also balance the nutrients, in fact, can have more of the nutrients than whole grains. Yes, some fruits and many vegetables are still needed, but be careful what you believe from dietitians.

#4. Protein is better than carbohydrates for diabetes. BE CARFUL. Because carbohydrates affect blood glucose levels so quickly, you may be inclined to and should eat less carbohydrates. However, do not substitute too much protein for the carbohydrates cut from your food plan. If you do, you can possibly develop other health problems. If you can find someone well schooled in nutrition consult with them and not dietitians because they will only promote high carbohydrate/low fat food plans and you need a balanced food plan that fits your needs. Fats are not the bad boys and too little fat is also bad for your health.

#5. You can adjust your diabetes drugs to 'cover' whatever you eat. This is just false. Don't do this unless you have discussed this with your doctor and he has approved. Most doctors will not unless you are overly thin and you could gain a few pounds. Insulin is also about the only medication you will be allowed to use for this if approved. Most diabetes drugs work best when they are taken consistently and as directed by your doctor. Oral medications normally will not be able to manage diabetes if too many carbohydrates are consumed and will have even more trouble if the level of fats in your food plan is too low.

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