The Sweet Truth About Seven Diabetes Myths, Part II
In Part I of the article, we busted four common diabetes myths; join us again as we take care of three more.
Confused by diabetes myths? Many people are, which is why we've posted this handy two-parter on the subject. In Part I, we cleared the air about insulin use, assured you that diabetes isn't contagious and that diabetics can have sweets occasionally, and busted the myth that diabetics get sick easier than most folks.
For Part II of our diabetic myth-busting extravaganza, we've got three more misperceptions to manage. This time, it's all about diet.
Myth 5: You get diabetes from eating too much sugar.
This is one diabetes myth we're happy to dispel. The sugar in itself isn't the problem. Type I (juvenile) diabetes has nothing to do with sugar: it's the result of a random point mutation that causes an autoimmune response that kills insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
Type 2 (adult onset) diabetes is based mostly on genetics and lifestyle. If you have a genetic propensity for diabetes and are overweight, you've got an increased risk for getting Type 2 diabetes. If diabetes runs in your family, your best bet is to maintain a healthy diet, watch your weight, and exercise regularly.
Myth 6: Diabetics can eat as much fruit as they like, because it's all natural.
Yeah, well, so is sugar -- and arsenic, for that matter. Fruits are good for you, yes, but latching onto this diabetes myth can be dangerous to your health. Most fruits are pure starch, which converts readily to glucose. Too much fruit will drive up your blood sugar just as much as too much candy.
That said, a diabetic faced with a choice between candy and fruit should always choose fruit, since it also contains fiber. You need fiber in significant amounts to help keep your digestive tract healthy. Plus, fruits have lots of vitamins and minerals to offer; most candies don't.
Myth 7: Diabetics can't eat starchy foods.
This is another diabetes myth that's based on a grain of truth. Too much starch is bad, but you have to eat some starches to remain healthy. Carbohydrates (i.e., starches) are one of the three basic components of food (along with proteins and fats), and your body requires carbs in order to keep running properly.
Some starches, especially those in dietary fiber, aren't absorbed by the body in significant amounts and can generally be disregarded. For example, whole-grain starchy foods have few effective carbs, and the fiber is good for you (see the above myth).
Otherwise, it's all about portion control. Diabetics can eat starchy foods, even those that convert readily to glucose, if they're part of a healthy diet that's combined with vigilant blood sugar maintenance. So there's no real reason to let this diabetes myth take all the fun out of eating.
