Most people with the condition have type 2. 415 million people have diabetes in the world and more than 14 million people in the Africa Region; by 2040 this figure will more than double.
There are about 27 million people in the US with it. Another
86 million have prediabetes: Their blood glucose is not normal,
but not high enough to be diabetes yet
There were more than 1.56 million cases of diabetes in
Nigeria in 2015.
Statistic: International Diabetes Federation (IDF )Africa
Here are ten of the most common myths and misconceptions
about this condition and the truth behind them.
1. Type 1 diabetes is not caused by eating sugar�
There are two main types of diabetes, helpfully called type 1
and type 2. Type 1 is an autoimmune disease.
It develops when the immune system attacks insulin-
producing beta cells in the pancreas. Without insulin, we can�t
regulate our blood sugar levels, and this can be very dangerous.
We don�t know exactly why the immune system kicks off like this,
but we do know it�s not a �lifestyle choice� � which is one of the
most common misconceptions around. As far as we know, there�s
nothing you can do to prevent type 1 diabetes.
2. Type2 diabetes is not necessarily caused by diet either.
Contrary to popular believe that Type2 diabetes is caused by
poor diet and lifestyle alone, Type 2 diabetes can have many
causes, including genetics and aging. It is also often associated
with obesity. But they�re wrong to do so. This too is a myth.
Type 2 diabetes can have a wide range of causes, including
genetics and the natural rise of blood sugar that occurs as we
get older. At least one in five people diagnosed with type 2
have a healthy weight.
3. There could be as many as four types of diabetes Age-related
Type 2 diabetes is completely different to other causes of type 2.
There are many types of diabetes. Along with the big two, there�s
gestational diabetes, and many more. Type 3 diabetes is a
proposed term for Alzheimer�s disease, because there are a
lot of links between Alzheimer and blood glucose levels in the brain.
A recent study suggested that there should be a fourth type of diabetes.
Type 4 diabetes would describe cases of type 2 diabetes caused
by aging rather than diet or genetics. The researchers came up
with this after finding that the metabolic process was much different
in cases of type 2 diabetes caused by aging.
4. Diabetes can be very, very serious.
Diabetes can have severe complications if not tightly- managed �
including retinopathy, and sometimes amputation. Diabetes is not a
mild disease. It is not about having the odd insulin injection or
declining a sugary dessert. Without careful management, diabetes
can lead to complications. These complications can affect nearly
every part of the body. Heart disease is common, as is retinopathy
(visual impairment), kidney problems, nerve damage � in extreme
cases, diabetes can lead to amputation.
5. Diabetes takes its toll emotionally:
Some studies estimate that people with diabetes are three times more
likely to experience depression. Research estimates that people with
diabetes are either two or three times more likely to go through
depression. It�s not surprising � dealing with a chronic disease day in,
day out, can lead to feelings of desperation and futility.
There�s a name for the feeling of hopelessness that comes with
diabetes � burnout. People with burnout often neglect to control
their diabetes, making them more likely to develop complications.
It�s a vicious cycle.
Another emotional complication of diabetes is diabulimia �
a condition that predominantly affects young women with diabetes.
It�s defined as the deliberate skipping of insulin injections in order
to lose weight. It�s as much an issue of body image as an issue of
diabetes, but it shows how tied to mental and emotional well-being
diabetes can be.
6. Diabetes can affect your relationships.
Diabetes can affect your relationships with loved ones. Many�s the time
we�ve heard stories on the forum of people walking out on their date
after realizing they had diabetes. It�s unpleasant, and wrong, but it just
goes to show the extra pressure it can sometimes put on a relationship �
many people don�t feel ready for the extra responsibility it brings.
7. A high-fat diet can actually help people with diabetes.
Cutting down on carbohydrates is key to good blood sugar control,
according to recent studies. Traditionally, the NHS has advocated
a diet based on starchy carbohydrates for people with diabetes.
Recent research, however, suggests that might not be the best
option. Instead, a low-carb diet has been found to make blood
glucose control easier.
8. Many, many things affect blood sugar levels.
There are many, many factors that affect blood glucose levels, including
sleep, alcohol, sex and stress. There is a massive number of a factors
that can affect blood glucose levels. The weather. Stress. Sex.
Pollution. Alcohol. Sleep. Exercise. Flying. Illness. Menstruation.
Pregnancy. Food. Steroids. Anti-psychotic medications. Dehydration.
Pain. All of these things that can affect your blood glucose levels.
It�s far more complicated than simply eating the right food. Diabetes
is like walking a tightrope with lots of people throwing things at you
and wobbling the rope.
9. Diabetes can affect your sex life too.
Diabetes can affect sexual performance. For men, there�s
erectile dysfunction, which can be caused by nerve damage,
along with retarded ejaculation, reduced sperm quality, and
retrograde ejaculation. For the ladies, sexual complications
include vaginitis and cystitis.
And Finally,
10. Diabetes is Completely Reversible Naturally:
With the right treatment, you can have your diabetic condition
transformed with a short period of time. Get informed and do
the right thing and will be happy being in no time
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