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Do you know if these statements are true or false? If you are
diagnosed as being diabetic, you will have to start taking insulin.
If you have diabetes, you have to give up all sweets and chocolate.
You have diabetes because you ate too much sugar. Everyone who gets
diabetes is overweight. As you can probably guess, all of these
statements are false.
There are a lot of myths about diabetes floating around out
there, some of them dangerous. How many times have you heard someone
say, “Oh, I had diabetes, but I don’t any more, my sugar is just a
little high,” or they say, “I just have a touch of sugar.” The truth
is that if you have been diagnosed as having diabetes, you will
always have it. You may be able to maintain your blood sugar levels
through diet and exercise and you may never have to go on oral
medication or insulin, but you still have to test your blood sugar
levels and see a doctor regularly.
There is a diabetes epidemic looming. Diabetes currently affects
246 million people worldwide and is expected to affect 380 million
by 2025. There are approximately 3.2 million deaths per year from
diabetes complications, 2 out of 3 people with diabetes die from
heart disease and stroke. Every 10 seconds a person dies from
diabetes-related causes. Every 10 seconds two people develop
diabetes. About half of all people with diabetes are unaware they
have the disease; in some countries this figure may be over
three-quarters.
Be familiar with the diabetes facts, know your family history and
learn how to recognize the symptoms; these are your best weapons in
the fight against diabetes. If you are diagnosed as having diabetes,
work with a dietician to develop a treatment plan and stick with it.
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