Myths About Diabetes

There are many diabetes myths circulating among diabetics, today. Some of these were started through ignorance, others  by doctors, dietitians and diabetes educators, others by a single flawed study, and still more exist because of a resistance to change by diabetics.

In some cases the very people that claim to be helping diabetics are actually lying to them.

Although it is very important to learn everything you can about diabetes, it may be just as important to unlearn a lot of things you believe to be true about diabetes, drugs, and nutrition.

Key Point: If you don't do your own research and educate yourself about diabetes, these myths about diabetes will prevent you from having the opportunity and the belief that you can reverse your diabetes! And, the experts who are not telling you the truth will have you locked into remaining diabetic and suffering unnecessarily from this disease.

Here are several myths and misunderstandings about diabetes, drugs, nutrition and other related topics.

Myth: Diabetes is just a little sugar problem – it’s not that serious.

Truth: Diabetes is a disease that affects trillions of cells in the body and, gradually, leads to complications such as heart attack, stroke, amputation, kidney failure, and blindness. So, diabetes is serious . . .  very serious.

Myth: Eating sweets and your genetics cause diabetes.

Truth: Eating sweets does not cause diabetes – they make you fat, which can lead to diabetes. Although your genetics can play a partial role in diabetes, the eating and cooking habits that are passed down from one generation to the next are more significant contributors, when combined with a sedentary lifestyle. Look at your genetics as being the “loaded gun” and your eating habits/lifestyle as “pulling the trigger”. As long as you don’t pull the trigger, the loaded gun can’t harm you! Your body may have a genetic predisposition to acquire diabetes, but, if you make better decisions than your ancestors about food, exercise, and lifestyle, then it is not a forgone conclusion that you will become diabetic.

Myth: There is no cure for diabetes – once a diabetic, always a diabetic.

Truth: The treatment protocol for Type 2 diabetes is drug therapy, which is designed to suppress the symptoms of the disease and not address the root causes of the disease. And, therefore, the disease cannot be cured. However, there is sufficient clinical evidence that shows lifestyle changes (such as nutrition, exercise, testing, and spiritual health) can prevent and control Type 2 diabetes. And, once the diabetes is under control, further lifestyle changes may reverse the effects of the disease – if the treatment focuses on repairing the trillions of defective cells.

Myth: Diabetes is not as serious if you are taking pills instead of insulin.

Truth: Diabetes should be taken as seriously regardless of whether you are taking pills or injections. 

Unfortunately, because we live in a drug-tolerant society that sees pills as “normal”, we don’t really believe our health is in any danger if we are taking pills. Either way, the diabetes will still progress and lead to other health complications. In fact, pills lull diabetics into a comfort zone and a false sense of wellness that eventually fails them. 

Author’s Note: A co-worker thought that he was safe taking a pill, but today is on insulin because the disease continued to progress.

Myth: You can control your diabetes by avoiding the carbs.

Truth: You may be able to temporarily lower your blood glucose level, but you can’t avoid a major macronutrient such as carbohydrates and expect to get healthy. 

Besides, not all carbohydrates are bad – it’s the refined carbohydrates such as white bread, pasta, and cereals that are the problem. However, good carbohydrates, such as broccoli and Brussel sprouts, actually provide some of the missing saccharides, which help to repair the cells and reduce the insulin resistance. 

Note: Recent research indicates that cells have a thin carbohydrate (“sugar”) coating (glycocalyx) of glycoproteins and glycolipids that support cellular communications and the immune and endocrine systems.

Myth: It costs more to eat healthy foods.

Truth: It does cost more to eat healthy foods – in the short term. Fresh vegetables and fruits cost more than a box of macaroni and cheese. Sprouted-grain bread cost more than wheat bread. Organic brown rice cost more than white rice. 

However, if you avoid eating a lot of animal meat,, your grocery bill go down drastically. And, as your health improves, you will save money with over-the-counter drugs, prescription drugs, doctor visits, physical exams, hospital stays, and the quantity of groceries.

Myth: Most people (including diabetics) do not like taking drugs.

Truth: Surprisingly, most people prefer to take drugs – in lieu of making changes to their lifestyle, nutrition, or exercise regimen. Most people will deny that they like taking drugs, but the facts show that more than 65% of the people in the United States take prescription and/or over-the-counter drugs; and, more than 60% take multiple drugs. This is due to our intolerance to personal pain and suffering – why suffer if there’s a drug that will eliminate the pain? Also, there is the belief that the drugs are “working” because they do what they are advertised to do, e.g. reduce pain, lower blood pressure, lower blood glucose, lower cholesterol. It will require a major paradigm shift in our thinking to move away from drugs as the solution to our health problems.