Gluocometer

Fact Sheet

MYTH 1 - Only wealthy people get diabetes.

FACT - Diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar Being overweight causes diabetes Diabetes can affect anyone, whatever their income or social background, and it is not simply caused by eating too much sugar or being overweight. However, eating more food than the body requires and being physically inactive increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

MYTH 2 - Diabetes is always inherited.

Obesity is hereditary, so dieting and exercising are useless

FACT - There does seem to be a genetic element to both Type 2 diabetes and obesity, which is why they can sometimes run in families. However, environmental foctors, including diet and exercise, play a huge part in the development of both these conditions. It is important for everyone to eat healthily and exercise regularly to reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes or obesity.

MYTH - 3. Women with diabetes shouldn't have babies - it's too risky .

FACT - This used to be true up to about 30 years ago, but now it is possible for all women with diabetes to have babies without endangering their health. The key is to achieve very good blood glucose control before becoming pregnant and taking care to maintain that control throughout the pregnancy.

MYTH - 4. Taking insulin or tablets allows people with diabetes to eat anything they want.

FACT - Even if a person with diabetes is taking insulin or tablets they still need to regulate their food intake, like anyone who does not have diabetes. Diabetes therapies aim to bring abnormally high blood glucose levels to near normal levels rather than offset any extra glucose load caused by an unhealthy diet. Meal-time insulin doses can be adjusted for larger or smaller meals, but regularly eating extra calories leads to weight gain in all people, with or without diabetes.

MYTH - 5. People with diabetes cannot drink alcohol.

FACT - Drinking a moderate amount of alcohol with food has no adverse effect on blood glucose or insulin levels in people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. However, alcohol can cause low glucose levels (hypos) if taken on an empty stomach or in excess.Drinking alcohol may, however, affect the motivation to monitor blood glucose levels and the ability to recognize hypos. Beer contains a lot of carbohydrate, which counters the effects of the alcohol in causing hypos, but leads to weight gain if drunk regularly. People with or without diabetes can benefit from the heart protective effects of light to moderate intake of alcohol - red wine seems to be particularly beneficial.

MYTH - 6. People with diabetes cannot eat sugar, but pure honey is not harmful.

FACT - Both honey and sugar can be taken in moderation in the diet of a person with diabetes,but people using insulin must remember to count them as part of their carbohydrate allowance. Honey is no 'better' than pure sugar for people with diabetes; it still has a very high sugar content and should be eaten sparingly.

MYTH - 7. Insulin use leads to an increased risk of heart disease.

FACT - Insulin use does not increase the risk of heart disease, as shown in recent studies. Indeed, insulin therapy can both help prevent heart disease and has proved useful in treating heart attacks in people with diabetes.

MYTH - 8. Diabetes is contagious.

FACT - Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are diseases of metabolism and are not contagious - you cannot contract diabetes by contact with a person with diabetes.

MYTH - 9. Diabetes can be caused by a traumatic incident in the person's life or by being bewitched or cursed.

FACT - The underlying causes of diabetes do not include a curse or a traumatic incident. Type 1 diabetes is a result of the body's own immune system destroying the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

Type 2 diabetes is due to the body becoming insensitive to its own insulin and then being unable to produce sufficient insulin to overcome that insensitivity. Stresses, such as an infection, can reveal diabetes that is already present but had not been recognized. An injury or operation that causes someone to require medical attention may also lead to diagnosis of already present diabetes