Myths And Reality About Diabetes

With diabetes in Indiareaching epidemic proportions,a survey indicates that one outof every five Indians believethatdiabetes is communicable.However, diabetes is fataland this is never registered asmore and more people look at itas a lifestyle related disease. Thepopulation also seeks comfortin myths rather than facts. Thefollowing article is a snapshot ofa set of myths that are commonand the truth behind them.Myth About Diabetes: 34%believe that women are moreprone to diabetesReality: Studies have indicatedthat Type I diabetes does notshow a female bias. The overallsex ratio is roughly equal in childrendiagnosed under the ageof 15. However, while populationswith the highest incidenceall show male excess, the lowestrisk populations mostly of non-European origin, characteristicallyshow a female biasMyth about Diabetes: 20%believe that diabetes is communicableReality: We know diabetes isnot contagious. It can’t be caughtlike a cold or flu. There seems tobe some genetic link in diabetes,particularly type 2 diabetes. Lifestylefactors also play a part.Myth About Diabetes: 52%are sure that Pre-Diabetes cannotbe curedReality: Early treatment canactually return blood glucoselevels to the normal range. Infact, you will not develop type2 diabetes automatically if youhave pre-diabetes.Myth About Diabetes: 42%Think Diabetes can be completelycuredReality: No. Cures for bothtype 1 and type 2 diabetes haveproved elusive to medical science.Myth About Diabetes: 33%Think junk food, syrupy drinks,don’t increase risk of DiabetesReality: Obesity is a causeof diabetes. There is conclusiveevidence that junk food is theleading cause of obesityand sojunk food is also linked to diabetes.Soft drinks and junk foodraise blood glucose and can provideseveral hundred calories injust one serving. A typical 300mlsoft drink has 10 tsp of sugarand 40gms of carbohydrates.