Diabetes Info

Myths about Diabetes

November 1st, 2007 | by admin |

Diabetes is caused by poor and inadequate secretion of the insulin hormone, hence leading to improper absorption of glucose from the food, thereby reducing the energy levels in a person. This is a main cause of Type 1 diabetes where the cells that produce insulin are attacked in the body’s immune system.

It is said that diabetes, or hyperglycemia, in a person is hereditary in nature, and the presence of the disease in the family (blood relationship) enhances the chances of a person from suffering from it as well. This is quite true especially in Type 2 diabetes where there is a string genetic link of suffering from the disease. There are other reasons too that may inflict this condition on a person. Some of the most common causes are overeating, poor nutrition, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, hypertension etc.

It is a common myth that too much intake if sugar is a main cause of diabetes. It should be noted that having sweets does not cause diabetes but should be restricted once a person is suffering from it as it may enhance a person’s chances of becoming obese, which may in turn cause a severe form of diabetes. Also it is neither contagious nor has a vaccination to prevent it. It is equally untrue that starchy foods cause diabetes. In fact, there are no particular types of foods that cause diabetes at all.

Also, there are no particular or special “diabetes food” that one needs to have once he suffers from diabetes. However, it is important to check the portion sizes of any food intake, and this applies to any disease. Insulin causes no such harm as high blood pressure or obesity, as is conceived by many who then restrict its intake. Also, though diabetes may be genetic in nature, but just because a person’s family history shows no signs of the disease does not steer him clear of suffering from it.