Myths about Diabetes

Myth #1               I have Mild Diabetes.

Truth #1               There is NO such thing as Mild Diabetes. All patients who meet the criteria for Diabetes are liable to long term disabling complications.

Myth #2               There is only one kind of serious Diabetes.

Truth #2               Diabetes is of two types:

Type I Diabetes. Type I Diabetes is a disease of insulin deficiency. Pancreatic β islet cells produce and secrete insulin.  Type I Diabetes is an autoimmune disease, where autoantibodies directed against pancreatic islet cells destroy these cells. Thus, the pancreatic cells produce little or no insulin. The treatment comprises of insulin therapy.
Type II Diabetes. Type II Diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance and a progressive decline in insulin secretion. This Diabetes is due to defective insulin release rather than destruction of β cells. Type II Diabetes is thus a disorder in which relative insulin deficiency gradually converts to absolute insulin deficiency which may require insulin therapy.     

Myth #3               I have Diabetes because I eat too much sugar.

Truth #3               After the intake of food, the increased concentration of glucose triggers the secretion of insulin from the pancreatic islet cells. After secretion, insulin enters the portal circulation and is carried to liver where it causes the storage of glucose in the form of glycogen.  Insulin also causes controlled release of glucose in between the meals.

Thus, insulin is the major regulator of intermediary metabolism. The deficiency of insulin thus causes an abnormal rise in the glucose levels in the body which brings about further microvascular and macro vascular complications.
Thus, it is not sugar that causes Diabetes, but a deficiency of insulin.

Myth #4               Since I’m obese, I will eventually develop Diabetes.

Truth#4                Diabetes develops when the body cannot secrete sufficient insulin to meet its requirements. Even massively obese individuals with fully functional β cells do not develop Diabetes. The concept is that β islet cell impairment generally occurs in people with poor nutrition early in life, especially those with low birth weight and who gain excess weight later in life.

Insulin resistance (Type II Diabetes) is associated with central obesity, and accumulation of intracellular triglycerides in muscles and liver. As compared with a healthy obese individual, a diabetic obese patient shows much greater destruction of β cells.
So, if you are overweight, it is not necessary that you will develop Diabetes.  

Myth #5               I have to eat special food because I have Diabetes.

Truth #5              The care of Diabetes is based on self- management in accordance with specialized medical care. The diet of Diabetic patients is not much different from healthy individuals. The diet has to be balanced with a proper exercise regimen. The diet is generally;

ü  Low in sugar (NOT SUGAR FREE!)

ü  High in starchy carbohydrates

ü  High in fiber

ü  Low in fat

The obese diabetics should be encouraged to lose weight by a combination of diet and exercise.

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