Diabetes Myths

Diabetes Myths

Can I get diabetes from someone else?
Although we don't know exactly why some people get diabetes, we know that diabetes is not contagious - You cannot get it from others. There is a chance that a person whose parents or brothers and sisters have diabetes might get diabetes, particularly Type 2 diabetes. But lifestyle factors also play a part.

Eating too much sugar causes diabetes.
Eating sugar does not cause diabetes. Diabetes is caused by a combination of inherited and lifestyle factors. However, eating a diet high in fat and sugar can cause you to become overweight. Being overweight increases your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, so if you have a history of diabetes in your family, a healthy diet and regular exercise are recommended to control your weight.

Type 2 diabetes is mild diabetes.
There is no such thing as mild or borderline diabetes. All diabetes is equally serious, and if not properly controlled can lead to serious complications.

People with diabetes eventually go blind.

Although diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in people of working age, research has proved you can reduce your chances of developing diabetes complications - such as damage to your eyes - if you:

o Control your blood pressure and glucose levels

o Keep active

o Maintain your ideal body weight

o Give up smoking

It's not safe to drive if you have diabetes.

Providing you are responsible and have good control of your diabetes, research shows that people with diabetes are no less safe on the roads than anyone else. Nevertheless, the myth that people with diabetes are not safe persists

People with diabetes can't play sports.
Pakistan's famous all-rounder Wasim Akram has diabetes; many other people with diabetes take part in active sports. People with diabetes are encouraged to exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle. Keeping active can help avoid complications associated with diabetes, such as heart disease. There may be some considerations to take into account with your diabetes before taking up a new exercise regime - talk to your doctor for more information.

People with diabetes are more likely to get colds and other illnesses.
No. You are no more likely to get a cold or another illness if you've got diabetes. However, people with diabetes are advised to get flu vaccinations. This is because any infection interferes with your blood glucose control, putting you at risk of high blood glucose levels and, for those with Type 1 diabetes, an increased risk of ketoacidosis.

People with diabetes can't eat sweets or chocolate.
Sweets and chocolate can be eaten by people with diabetes just like the rest of us, if eaten as part of a healthy diet. Remember that confectionery foods tend to be higher in fat and calories too so for this reason they should be limited especially if you're trying to lose weight.

People with diabetes shouldn't eat bananas or grapes.
All fruit and vegetables are extremely good for you. Eating more can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, some cancers and some gut problems. You should aim to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. This also helps to improve the overall balance of the diet. Eating a variety of different fruit and vegetables ensure you get the maximum benefit.

People with diabetes should eat special diabetic foods.
Diabetic versions of foods offer no special benefit. They still raise blood glucose levels, contain just as much fat and calories, are usually more expensive and can also have a laxative effect. The healthy diet for people with diabetes is the same as that recommended for everyone - low in fat, salt and sugar, with meals including starchy foods like bread and pasta and plenty of fruit and vegetables.

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Diabetes - The 6 Points That Will Explain it to You

Diabetes - The 6 Points That Will Explain it to You

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease in which patients present with absolute or relative insulin deficiency. It affects about 6% of western populations and is a major contributing factor for heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure and peripheral vascular disease. Diabetes mellitus is also the leading cause of new blindness without a cure.

1. Types of Diabetes
There are four forms of the disease, classified as: types 1 and 2, gestational and other specific types.

a. Type 1 Diabetes
In people with type 1 diabetes the pancreas is not producing insulin, so blood glucose levels are higher than normal. People with this form of diabetes require daily insulin therapy to survive. This form is further split into idiopathic diabetes and immune mediated diabetes.

Type 1 accounts for around 10% to 15% of all people with diabetes. It is one of the most serious and common chronic diseases of childhood, with about half of the people with this form of diabetes developing the disease before age 18. It is also known as insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile-onset diabetes.

b. Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is marked by reduced levels of insulin (insulin deficiency) and/or the inability of the body to use insulin properly (insulin resistance). This form of the disease is most common among people aged 40 years and over and accounts for 85% to 90% of all people with diabetes. Most people with type 2 diabetes are obese.

c. Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy in about 3% to 8% of females not previously diagnosed with diabetes. It is a temporary form of diabetes and usually disappears after the baby is born. However, it is a marker of much greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life. Screening tests for gestational diabetes are usually performed around the 24th-28th week of pregnancy.

d. Other Specific Diabetes Types
This includes people who have diabetes as a result of a genetic defect, or exposure to certain drugs or chemicals.

2. Causes of Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes is caused by resistance to, or deficient production of, the hormone insulin, which helps glucose move from the blood into the cells.

In type 1 immune mediated diabetes, pancreatic beta cell destruction results in failure to release insulin and ineffective transport of glucose. There is no known cause for idiopathic diabetes.

In type 2 diabetes, the beta cells release insulin but, receptors are insulin resistant and glucose transport is variable and inefficient. Some people may have conditions that can cause diabetes, such as Cushing's syndrome, pancreatitis or liver disease.

Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include;

a. Obesity

b. History of Gestational diabetes

c. Lack of physical activity

d. Hypertension

e. Age 45+

f. Ethnic groupings other than anglo-saxon

g. Low HDL cholesterol levels

h. Impaired glucose tolerance

I. Family history

3. Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes
Symptoms of diabetes include; dehydration, unexplained weight loss, excessive thirst, frequent need to urinate, fatigue, lethargy, severe irritation and itching, excessive hunger, blurred vision, skin and urinary infections and vaginitis.

4. Diagnosis
Diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance may be detected on routine blood tests as part of a general health check up or investigation for other symptoms or diseases. Diabetes tests check blood glucose levels. Someone with a random non fasting blood glucose level greater than 200mg/dl accompanied by other symptoms, or someone with a fasting blood glucose level greater than 126mg/dl can be diagnosed with diabetes.

Because symptoms can be mild, diabetes is often detected when a person suffers a problem that is caused by diabetes, such as a heart attack, stroke, neuropathy, poor wound healing or a foot ulcer, certain eye problems, certain fungal infections, or delivering a baby with macrosomia or hypoglycemia.

5. Diabetes Treatment
Effective treatment endeavors to normalize blood glucose and reduce complications using insulin replacement, diet and exercise. For those with very mild diabetes, diet plus weight loss plus exercise may be enough to keep blood glucose within reasonable levels.

Dietary changes should focus on the ideas of weight loss and blood sugar regulation by keeping the blood sugar levels relatively stable throughout the day, avoiding big peaks or troughs. Interestingly a number of people have experienced considerable benefit from the use of a new technology consisting of quantum energy strips infused with red Korean ginseng and marine phytoplanktons.

Very recent research shows that a shift in the body's REDOX balance is a hallmark of diabetes so therefore supplementation with cell signaling molecules may well restore balance and restore health.

The principal treatment of type 1 diabetes, even from its earliest stages, is replacement of insulin combined with careful monitoring of blood glucose levels using blood testing monitors.

Type 2 diabetes may require oral anti-diabetic drugs to stimulate the body's insulin production and increase insulin sensitivity. Various forms of natural supplements for diabetes treatment have also been postulated as effective.

People with unstable diabetes, or those requiring many injections a day, may benefit from an insulin pump which is worn on the body and delivers a continuous infusion of insulin via a needle implanted into the body.

Gestational diabetes is fully treatable but requires careful medical supervision throughout the pregnancy. Even though it may be transient, untreated gestational diabetes can damage the health of the fetus or the mother.

Treatment for all forms of diabetes need not significantly impair normal activities, if sufficient patient training, awareness, appropriate care, discipline in testing and dosing of insulin is taken

6. Complications
Diabetes mellitus is the most common cause of adult kidney failure worldwide in the developed world. If undetected or poorly controlled, diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure, lower limb amputation, heart attack, stroke and impotence.

The Relationship of Diabetes to Other Diseases and Conditions

The Relationship of Diabetes to Other Diseases and Conditions

The Relationship of Diabetes to Other Diseases and Conditions
The U.S. diabetes epidemic is more dangerous than most people realize. The Center for Disease Control recently indicated that more than 63% of Americans are at risk for diabetes due to a Body Mass Index (BMI) qualifying them as overweight. Diabetes not only causes other conditions and symptoms, but also is linked with kidney and cardiovascular diseases. To prevent complications, it's important to understand the relationship between diabetes and other diseases.

Diabetic Retinopathy
Retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes that causes decreased and blurry vision, and eventually blindness. The effect of diabetic retinopathy on vision depends on the stage of the disease. Diabetes' effect on the retina is a severe threat, mostly seen in elderly sufferers. People with diabetes also tend to experience long-term effects on the circulatory system. As diabetes progresses, the arteries in the retina weaken and form hemorrhages. In later stages of the disease, circulation problems cause areas of the eye to become oxygen-deprived. Consequently, new vessels develop that hemorrhage easily, and blood may leak into the retina as well.

Obesity
Obesity and diabetes are scientifically proven to be directly linked. In fact, obesity is a direct cause of Type II Diabetes. Obesity is dangerous because an excessive proportion of body fat causes elevated blood glucose levels. The human body manufactures insulin after every meal to alert cells that higher levels of glucose are on the way. Type II Diabetes sufferers lack the ability to use this insulin hormone. And when insulin isn't used properly, the body can't digest food correctly, hence increasing the risk of additional weight gain, as well as diabetes.

Kidney Disease/Kidney Failure
Diabetes affects many parts of the body. According to the National Kidney Foundation, diabetic kidney disease results from injured small blood vessels in the body. When blood vessels in the kidneys are injured, the kidneys cannot clean the blood properly. At this point, the human body retains more water and salt than it should (which results in weight gain and ankle swelling). In addition, protein appears in the urine and waste materials accumulate in the blood. In addition, Type II Diabetes can cause nerve damage which can result in urination problems. The pressure resulting from a full bladder can back up and injure the kidneys. When urine remains in the bladder for too long, the high levels of sugar can cause the rapid growth of bacteria, resulting in an infection.

Heart Disease & Stroke
The American Diabetes Association says two-thirds of people with Type II Diabetes die from heart disease and stroke. As such, diabetes and heart disease work in tandem - and people with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing heart disease. A person with diabetes has higher than normal blood sugar levels. These high blood sugar levels can damage many parts of the body, including blood vessels. Heart disease is a direct result of narrowed or blocked blood vessels that lead to the heart. Hence, increased blood sugar levels, common with Type II Diabetes sufferers, causes increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Breast Cancer
Scientists have investigated the possible relationship between breast cancer and diabetes and suggested that high levels of insulin increases the risk of breast cancer. Since many factors, such as obesity, increase the risk of both breast cancer and diabetes, it's been difficult for scientists to determine if diabetes itself is the issue. However, research indicates that women with diabetes have a 20% higher risk of breast cancer than women without diabetes. One recent study suggests that high blood sugar increases the risk of breast cancer, even among pre-menopausal women. In addition, significant weight gain (more than 55 lbs. since age 18, or 22 lbs. after menopause) acts as a catalyst in causing diabetes - and can also increase the risk of breast cancer.

Foot Problems
Of the 16 million Americans with diabetes, more than 25% will develop foot problems due to the disease, according to Foot.com. Diabetic foot problems develop from a combination of factors, including poor circulation and neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy causes an insensitivity to feel pain, heat and cold. As a result, people with diabetes may be unaware they have developed minor cuts, scrapes, blisters or pressure sores. If these minor injuries are left untreated, complications may result, lead to ulceration and possibly even amputation. Foot.com also states that diabetic neuropathy can cause deformities, such as bunions, hammer toes and Charcot feet.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
CTS is another common complication of diabetic neuropathy. Because of the decreased or distorted nerve function, a patient's ability to feel nerve sensation is lessened. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include numbness, tingling, weakness and burning sensations, usually beginning in the fingers and toes and progressing to the arms and legs. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, a 2005 study reported that about 85% of patients with Type I Diabetes develop CTS. Development of CTS was related to the patient's age, as well as the length of time they had diabetes.

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A Diabetic's Menu - What To Include, What To Exclude

A Diabetic's Menu - What To Include, What To Exclude

Diabetes mellitus affects millions of people all over the world, and it can come in three main forms. In all forms, the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas no longer produce adequate amounts of insulin, a hormone that aids in breaking down sugars in the bloodstream for use as energy sources. This can change the diabetic's menu drastically.

People with Type 1 diabetes suffer from an autoimmune disorder that leads the body to destroy the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. People with Type 2 diabetes have body tissues that are resistant to the effects of insulin. Women with gestational diabetes suffer symptoms similar to Type 2 diabetes because of hormones produced during pregnancy.

Type 2 diabetes can be managed or controlled with a diabetic-friendly menu. In addition to a diabetes Type 2 menu that consists of avoiding certain foods or substituting some foods for others, doctors also recommend that people with Type 2 diabetes should increase the frequency of their exercise, but not to the point of tiring themselves out. With greater physical activity, patients dealing with Type 2 diabetes can lose weight and lower their chances of running into diabetes complications, such as cardiovascular disease and hypertension.

What Constitutes a Diabetic Menu?
In general, people with Type 2 diabetes can consume only a limited amount of fats, but higher levels of whole grains and fiber. People with Type 2 diabetes may also be required to lower their consumption of foods with a high glycemic index, or lower amounts of carbohydrates. This can ease the body's metabolic load of having to break down sugars, although not all low glycemic-index foods are recommended for diabetics.

Some food companies have cashed in on diabetes, and have their own versions of a diabetes food list consisting of supposedly substituted foods and diabetic-friendly foods. Doctors, however, warn against the consumption of such products, as they can be expensive, and will often have no real benefits to people suffering from diabetes. Moreover, because the purportedly diabetic-friendly foods are low in sugar, they can often contain substitutes that are high in flavor, but likewise high in fats.

Doctors and dietitians will generally recommend taking whole fibers, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables at about five serving portions a day. Not all fruits and vegetables, however, are recommended; for instance, some mangoes and lychees are high in fruit sugar, which can increase the metabolic load on diabetics.

Because of a natural predisposition to hypertension, people with Type 2 diabetes are often cautioned to stay away from high sodium foods such as chips, preserved or processed meat products, canned goods, instant soups, and crackers. People with Type 2 diabetes might also be prescribed sodium or salt substitutes.

A common mistake diabetics make is to remove sugar entirely from their diabetic food exchange list, and taking sugar substitutes only. However, diabetics still need an energy source, so if taken in moderate amounts, sugar can still be a part of the menu. Sugar should be eaten within a meal, and it can be consumed in the forms of fruit pies, pudding, or frozen yogurt.

Diet colas are also recommended, as they will use sugar substitutes; however, because such colas are high in caffeine, doctors do not recommend them to diabetics who are prone to tremors brought about by caffeine consumption.

How Can You Avail of a Diabetic Menu?
Menus for diabetics will caution people with diabetes to stay away completely from fats, especially saturated fats found in chicken skin, dairy, butter, and solid vegetable fats. Typically, a diabetic food list will recommend using canola and olive oil, low-fat or non-fat milk, diabetic-friendly cheese, and low-fat yogurt. A diabetic food list will also allow consumption of meats that are boiled, grilled, broiled, or baked, but not fried.

If you are looking for a complete diabetic food list, you can talk to your physician or consult with a licensed dietitian or nutritionist. Such experts can give you a list of foods that you can eat, as well as recommendations on how you can plan your diet without having a difficult time switching to the new low-sodium, low-saturated fat, low sugar regimen.

With the guidance of your physician, you can look for sample diabetic menus online that can truly help you get the nutrition that you need. Take caution when looking at diabetic free menus, and never follow an online diabetic sample menu without consulting your physician first.

With persistence on your part, as well as expert opinions from your physician, dietitian, and nutritionist, you can manage your Type 2 diabetes. You can still live a normal, productive life, and you can keep your body from plunging into medical complications that can be difficult to deal with. Stick to your diet, get a good diabetic's menu, always check your diabetes sugar count, and you can find that your diabetes can be easy to manage

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Diabetes - Three Natural Ways to Prevent, Control and Treat

Diabetes - Three Natural Ways to Prevent, Control and Treat 

Almost everyone knows someone with diabetes. From 1980 through 2004, less than one-quarter of a century, the total number of Americans with diabetes more than doubled! Estimates show that about six percent of the American population or about 18.2 million Americans suffer from this life-long illness. And about 6 million of those people haven't been diagnosed yet.

The causes of diabetes are well known. Diabetes is a condition that occurs when the body has lost its ability to regulate the levels of glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream. This is usually due to some interruption in the production of insulin. Insulin is the hormone in our body that lowers blood sugar levels. Without the hormone in our body, our blood sugar levels increase to dangerously high levels. Since all the organs in our body rely on a steady supply of glucose so they can function properly, any disruption blood sugar levels can have dire consequences. Diabetes often leads to blindness, heart and blood vessel disease, stroke, kidney failure, amputations, and nerve damage.

There are two major types of diabetes - Type 1 which is often called juvenile diabetes and Type 2 which is often called adult diabetes or adult-onset diabetes. Although diabetes can strike at any age, Type 1 diabetes usually strikes children and young adults. In Type 1 diabetes, cells in the pancreas called beta cells, these are the ones that make insulin to control blood sugar levels in our body, do not function. So in order to maintain or manage blood sugar levels, people with Type 1 diabetes must inject insulin or have it delivered by a small pump into their body. In effect, they must supply the insulin that the beta cells in their pancreas are not supplying. Type 1 diabetes accounts for about five to ten percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is more common than Type 1. Type 2 diabetes generally affects adults. Type 2 adult diabetes usually begins as the body starts to resist the effects of insulin - sometimes called insulin resistance. The body just doesn't use the insulin it makes effectively or efficiently. This inefficiency puts extra demands on the pancreas where insulin is made by the beta cells. Over time, the pancreas and beta cells can't keep up and gradually begin to lose the ability to make insulin at all.

The American Diabetes Association estimates that nearly 6 million Americans are currently living with undiagnosed diabetes. The effects of an adult with diabetes may first appear as problems with their vision, nerves, kidney failure, heart attack, or stroke. It isn't until these life threatening conditions occur that they realize they have been living with the chronic disease of diabetes. The symptoms of an adult with diabetes and the symptoms of a child with diabetes are recognizable: excessive thirst, craving for sweet foods, passing urine frequently, tiredness and weight loss. Although the onset of Adult Type 2 diabetes is gradual, the onset of Juvenile Type 1 diabetes is usually very rapid and sometimes life threatening when they first appear.

Why would anyone develop Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes? Can diabetes be passed down? The answer is maybe. Genetics and other family histories are being examined to determine whether Type 1 or Type 2 are hereditary, but the cause of Type 2 diabetes is more associated with lifestyle habits. Type 2 diabetes is often seen in people who don't exercise, are obese, have a poor diet, and lead stress-filled lives.

Diabetes is ranked as the sixth leading cause of death in the United States but may be underestimated. The reason is that more than 60 percent of those with diabetes often die as a result of heart disease or stroke. And it is the heart disease or stroke that is listed as the cause of death. Because the causes of Type 2 diabetes are associated with lifestyle habits, there may be a NATURAL TREATMENT for Type 2 Adult Diabetes. There may be a natural treatment for the CONTROL of diabetes.

Here are three natural lifestyle habits to prevent, control, and treat diabetes.

1. Maintain a healthy weight. 90 percent of all people diagnosed with diabetes are overweight. According to the American Diabetes Association, even 5 to 10 percent reduction in body weight can result in a tremendous reduction in the risk or severity of diabetes. For most people, that's only a loss of 10-20 pounds.

2. Exercise. Physical activity can lower your blood sugar (glucose) and help insulin work better for your body. That means your body is less susceptible to the development of diabetes. If you're trying to lose weight as a natural way to prevent, control, or treat your diabetes, a combination of physical activity and wise food choice can help you reach your target.

3. Nutrition. Eating habits contribute significantly to the current increase in diabetes. Over the past 50 years, people have been eating more and more carbohydrates and sugar-filled foods. Eating a lot of carbohydrates each day puts stress on the pancreas which must work harder to maintain blood sugar levels. As the pancreas degrades, and you continue to eat the carbohydrates, you make yourself prone to Type 2 diabetes.

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Diabetes Complications - How to Detect and Avoid it

Diabetes Complications - How to Detect and Avoid it 

Diabetes is a disease caused by your body's inability to create insulin. This inability hinders the natural process of turning carbohydrates into energy. Since diabetes disrupts the body's normal functions, there are many diabetes complications that can occur if the disease goes untreated or in the more sever cases of the disease. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you will need to work closely with your physician in order to develop a plan of action that will be best for you.

You may choose medications or you may choose more natural treatments. Either way, a healthy diet and regular exercise will be an important part of your diabetes management. Once you have been diagnosed with diabetes, it is important to manage the disease to minimize the chance of suffering from diabetes complications.

Diseases and Illnesses Caused by Diabetes

Diabetes can cause the onset of other illnesses and diseases. Some of the illnesses and diseases that can be caused by diabetes complications are more serious than the diabetes itself. Let's look at some of the complications that can arise from diabetes:


Eye complications - one of the symptoms of diabetes is blurred vision caused when the body takes fluid from other tissues in order to compensate for the loss of insulin. People who have diabetes are at a higher risk of blindness.
Heart disease - the complications of diabetes makes the risk of heart disease higher in people with diabetes.
Stroke - the complications of diabetes also place the diabetic at a higher risk of stroke.
Kidney disease - the symptoms of diabetes causes the kidneys to work harder than normal. This can cause the kidneys not to properly filter out waste products and could lead to kidney failure.
Neuropathy and Nerve Damage - one of the most common complications for the diabetic is damage to the nerves connecting the spinal cord to muscles, skin, blood vessels, and other organs.
Feet - as a result of the nerve damage and poor circulation caused by diabetes, many people develop problems with their feet.
Skin - many people with diabetes suffer from skin disorders. These disorders are often an indication that a person has diabetes. Skin disorders can be prevented and treated.
Gastroparesis - this disease happens if the nerves to the stomach are damaged and causes the stomach to take too long to empty its contents. People who suffer from Gastroparesis often experience heartburn, nausea, feeling full at the beginning of a meal, weight loss, vomiting undigested food, bloating, loss of appetite, gastroesophageal reflux, and even spasms within the wall of the stomach.
Depression - many illnesses and diseases can cause people to suffer from depression. The feeling of not having control over your body can often times lead people to a false sense of failure and hopelessness.Diagnosis and Management in Diabetes



The diabetes complications above gives you an indication of just how important it is detect diabetes as early as possible. Early detection is the best way to learn early on how to control the symptoms of diabetes and lessen your chances of the diabetes complications leading to more serious illnesses and diseases. As soon as you are given a diagnosis of diabetes, you should begin working with your physician to formulate a plan of management for the disease. There is no cure for diabetes, but in many cases, it can be controlled and the risks of it causing more serious complications can be decreased.

Management of your diabetes is a key factor in whether the disease will lead to more serious illnesses and diseases. The best way that you can remain in control is to formulate a management plan with your physician, which should consist of a treatment plan, a healthy diet, and regular exercise. Even if you have not been diagnosed with diabetes, it is important to begin a healthy lifestyle that includes a healthy diet and regular exercise so that diabetes and diabetes complications can be avoided and you can live a normal, healthy life span

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Facts About Diabetes

Facts About Diabetes

Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have "pre-diabetes" -- blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. There are 54 million people in the United States who have pre-diabetes. Recent research has shown that some long-term damage to the body, especially the heart and circulatory system, may already be occurring during pre-diabetes.

The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

There are two major types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes results from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.

There is also pre-diabetes which is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. There are 54 million Americans who have pre-diabetes, in addition to the 20.8 million with diabetes.

Diabetes symptoms may vary from person to person but most of the time anyone with diabetes will experience some or all of these symptoms. Some symptoms are: going to the restroom more often, staying thirsty, fatigue, blurred vision, stomach pain and occasionally people suffer from weight loss.

Type 1 diabetes is normally only found in children and type 2 diabetes is found mostly in adults but not always. There are some cases where children are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Some people may be diagnosed with being borderline diabetic, which normally ends up turning into full blown diabetes but not always.

Some of the most important things people with diabetes should know is a healthy, nutritional diet and a regular exercise program can help in treating the disease. Speak with your doctor about what kind of diet you should consider following, along with a moderate exercise program. The doctor or a nutritionist should be able to tell you exactly what kinds of foods you should be avoiding and give you some tips on how much exercise you need every week. Doing this has many health benefits and will also make you feel so much better about yourself.
You should know the truth about some of the most common myths about diabetes. 

Myth #1 You can catch diabetes from someone else. No. Although we don't know exactly why some people develop diabetes, we know diabetes is not contagious. It can't be caught like a cold or flu. There seems to be some genetic link in diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle factors also play a part.

Myth #2 People with diabetes can't eat sweets or chocolate. If eaten as part of a healthy meal plan, or combined with exercise, sweets and desserts can be eaten by people with diabetes. They are no more "off limits" to people with diabetes, than they are to people without diabetes.

Myth #3 Eating too much sugar causes diabetes. No. Diabetes is caused by a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors. However, being overweight does increase your risk for developing type 2 diabetes. If you have a history of diabetes in your family, eating a healthy meal plan and regular exercise are recommended to manage your weight.

Myth #4 People with diabetes should eat special diabetic foods. A healthy meal plan for people with diabetes is the same as that for everyone - low in fat (especially saturated and trans fat), moderate in salt and sugar, with meals based on whole grain foods, vegetables and fruit. Diabetic and "dietetic" versions of sugar-containing foods offer no special benefit. They still raise blood glucose levels, are usually more expensive and can also have a laxative effect if they contain sugar alcohols.

Myth #5 If you have diabetes, you should only eat small amounts of starchy foods, such as bread, potatoes and pasta. Starchy foods are part of a healthy meal plan. What is important is the portion size. Whole grain breads, cereals, pasta, rice and starchy vegetables like potatoes, yams, peas and corn can be included in your meals and snacks. The key is portions. For most people with diabetes, having 3-4 servings of carbohydrate-containing foods is about right. Whole grain starchy foods are also a good source of fiber, which helps keep your gut healthy.

Myth #6 People with diabetes are more likely to get colds and other illnesses. No. You are no more likely to get a cold or another illness if you have diabetes. However, people with diabetes are advised to get flu shots. This is because any infection interferes with your blood glucose management, putting you at risk of high blood glucose levels and, for those with type 1 diabetes, an increased risk of ketoacidosis.

Myth #7 Insulin causes atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and high blood pressure. No, insulin does not cause atherosclerosis. In the laboratory, there is evidence that insulin can initiate some of the early processes associated with atherosclerosis. Therefore, some physicians were fearful that insulin might aggravate the development of high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries. But it doesn't.

Myth #8 Insulin causes weight gain, and because obesity is bad for you, insulin should not be taken. Both the UKPDS (United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study) and the DCCT (Diabetes Control & Complications Trial) have shown that the benefit of glucose management with insulin far outweighs (no pun intended) the risk of weight gain.

Myth #9 Fruit is a healthy food. Therefore, it is OK to eat as much of it as you wish. Fruit is a healthy food. It contains fiber and lots of vitamins and minerals. Because fruit contains carbohydrate, it needs to be included in your meal plan. Talk to your dietitian about the amount, frequency and types of fruits you should eat.

Myth #10 You don't need to change your diabetes regimen unless your A1C is greater than 8 percent. The better your glucose control, the less likely you are to develop complications of diabetes. An A1C in the sevens (7s), however, does not represent good control. The ADA goal is less than 7 percent. The closer your A1C is to the normal range (less than 6 percent), the lower your chances of complications. However, you increase your risk of hypoglycemia, especially if you have type 1 diabetes. Talk with your health care provider about the best goal for you.

There is no cure right now for diabetes but there are several different forms of treatment available for you. Do not give up hope on feeling better and living a long, healthy, happy life. Even if you are one of the many that has been diagnosed with this disease, it does not mean that your life as you know it is over. It simply means you may need medication and you will have to consider certain lifestyle changes that will have an amazing outcome once you have done so. There are many other treatment options that could eventually be available to you but are currently undergoing more detailed research.

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