What Are Some Myths About Type 2 Diabetes?

What are some myths about type 2 diabetes?

There are a number of myths about type 2 diabetes. The most dangerous myth is the belief that diabetes isn’t that serious. In fact, type 2 diabetes kills more people each year than breast cancer and AIDS combined.
Another popular misconception is that type 2 diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar. This myth probably stems from the fact that if you eat a lot of sugar, you may be overweight, and that can increase your risk for type 2 diabetes. But just because you consume a lot of sugar doesn’t mean you’ll end up with diabetes, which is caused by heredity and lifestyle factors, such as being overweight and not exercising.
Another myth: Some people believe that if you have type 2 diabetes, you must eat only special foods. Not true. Your diet should be one that would be healthy for anyone -- low in fat, with vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean meat and nonfat dairy products.
The top 4 myths about type 2 diabetes are:
Myth 1: "Diabetes is nothing to worry about -- it's just a 'touch of sugar.' I'm just borderline."
Fact: Diabetes is a serious condition, but there's a lot you can do to take care of yourself.
Myth 2: "If I take my diabetes pills, I don't have to worry about what I eat or whether I exercise."
Fact: All three ways -- medication, meal planning, and physical activity -- work together to treat diabetes.
Myth 3: "Once you have diabetes, there's nothing you can do to prevent health problems."
Fact: Research has proven that keeping blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels on target can help prevent diabetes complications such as heart attack, st Continue reading

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Drinking Wine For Diabetes Prevention: Moderate Alcohol Consumption Manages Blood Sugar

Many of us drink the occasional glass of wine to disconnect our brain at the end of the day. The alcoholic beverage not only acts as a stress reliever, it can also protect us from diabetes. A new study published in Diabetologia found a moderate to high intake of wine is associated with a lower risk of developing diabetes.
Researchers from the National Institute of Public Health at the University of Southern Denmark believe its protective effects could be attributed to the role polyphenols have on managing blood sugar levels. Although the mechanism is still hazy, researchers suggest higher concentrations of tannins have an inhibiting effect on the action of carbohydrate-reducing enzymes. In other words, the presence of polyphenols in the body will influence the effect foods have on blood sugar levels during and after consumption.
Read More: People With Type 2 Diabetes May Benefit From Drinking Red Wine In The Context Of A Healthy, Mediterranean Diet
In the study, men and women who consumed seven or more drinks of wine per week had a 25 to 30 percent lower risk of diabetes compared to those who had less than one drink of wine per week.
"Our findings suggest that alcohol drinking frequency is associated with the risk of diabetes and that consumption of alcohol over 3-4 weekdays is associated with the lowest risks of diabetes, even after taking average weekly alcohol consumption into account," wrote the study authors, in their paper.
Previous research on alcohol use and diabetes consistently shows light to moderate alcohol consumption (how many drinks are consumed) is linked wi Continue reading

How to Lower and Control High Blood Sugar in the Morning?

There are various reasons which lead to a high blood glucose in the morning. The most common ones are the dawn phenomenon as well as the Somogyi effects. These two effects are explained in detail as part of another article. In this article, we shall analyze and try to understand the ways and means by which we can try to reduce the elevated levels of blood glucose in the morning. So, join in for the article “How to Lower and Control High Blood Sugar in the Morning?”
Following are a few easy ways in which you can control the high levels of blood glucose that you experience particularly during the morning time
You Should Always Eat a Breakfast Which is High on Essential Nutrients
If the high blood glucose is caused due to dawn phenomena, then your blood sugar level will be really high between 2 A.M to 6 A.M. the body will be producing a lot of hormones such as glucagon, cortisol, amongst others. In order to fight them, a nutrient rich breakfast is a must have.
Some examples of a breakfast that is rich in nutrients can include oats, unsweetened milk, nut butter, etc.
Eat a Protein or a Fat Snack
You can eat a protein snack just before going to bed the previous night or first thing in the morning before eating your breakfast. Since protein breaks down in the body slowly as compared to the other food items, the fasting time until morning is reduced to a great extent. The best options for you to have is a spoonful of apple cider vinegar along with a slice of cheese to go with it. Besides, you can also go for nuts as they are rich in fiber and also help in controlling some of t Continue reading

Type 2 diabetes can be REVERSED by strict weight loss programme without medication, study finds

Type 2 diabetes can be completely reversed by a weight loss programme without any medication, a study has found.
The landmark trial of UK adults published in the Lancet showed that 46% of patients on the strict calorie counting programme who lost an average of 10kg were ‘cured’ a year later.
That compared to only 4% of a second group which followed the current best practice treatment of GPs’ lifestyle advice and drugs to reduce blood sugar levels.
Scientists are hailing the programme of strict calorie control combined with counselling and then gradual increases in exercise as a possible template to reverse diabetes.
Almost nine out of 10 participants who lost more than 15kg on programme put their condition into remission.
There are 3.6 million people diagnosed with the condition in the UK and a further one million who do not know they have it.
The findings suggest, if rolled out nationally, at lest 1.5 million Brits could reverse their diabetes within a year.
The NHS currently spends 10% of its budget on treating diabetes and its complications, around £14 billion annually. This is expected to rise to 17% by 2035.
Co-author Professor Roy Taylor, of Newcastle University, said: "Rather than addressing the root cause, management guidelines for type 2 diabetes focus on reducing blood sugar levels through drug treatments.
"Diet and lifestyle are touched upon but diabetes remission by cutting calories is rarely discussed.
"A major difference from other studies is that we advised a period of dietary weight loss with no increase in physical activity, but during the long-term Continue reading

Kicking Off Diabetes Awareness Month: What Glucose Meter Is Best For Me?

November is National Diabetes Awareness month!
While you might think that this is just another made-up holiday, similar to National Chocolate Fondue day, you’re wrong! Diabetes Awareness Month has a very important purpose. The National Institute of Health and American Diabetes Association uses November to raise awareness about diabetes risk-factors and life-threatening complications, and promote preventative behaviors.
Why is this important? In 2015, 30.3 million (9.5% of the population) people had diabetes, and about half of all Americans with diabetes went undiagnosed. Diabetes can lead to life-threatening complications, like nerve and kidney damage, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular diseases, or even eye damage. Fortunately, most cases of diabetes can be prevented with a healthy diet and regular exercise, and with proper management, severe complications can be avoided.
This November, our team at GoodRx will be bringing you more information about affording your diabetes medications, tips for treatment, and insulin comparisons. Stay tuned!
Let’s kick off diabetes month with some info about new innovative glucose meters. The importance of having a discrete and easy way to check your blood sugar is vital for many diabetics and pre-diabetics. So what’s available?
Dario
The Dario is an all-in-one smart glucose meter that can monitor and measure your blood glucose with the help of your smartphone. The Dario is simple to use and has a disposable test strip cartridge and a lancing device that easily fits in your pocket.
The Dario does not require batteries as the power Continue reading