Truth

Like all complicated matters there are certain misunderstandings regarding Diabetes.

Today I want to dispel some myths regarding diabetes.

Here is a list of the questions that I will be discussing:
Can get diabetes from someone else?
Eating too much sugar causes diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is mild diabetes
People with diabetes eventually go blind
It’s not safe to drive if you have diabetes
People with diabetes can’t play sport
People with diabetes are more likely to get colds and other illnesses
People with diabetes can’t eat sweets or chocolate
People with diabetes shouldn’t eat bananas or grapes
People with diabetes should eat special diabetic foods

Now for some serious myth bashing…

Can 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:
• Control your blood pressure and glucose levels
• Keep active
• Maintain your ideal body weight
• 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 sport
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.

Dr Sherry Chandy is a Medical Domain Specialist at Yos Technologies.

He is a medical doctor and ophthalmologist by profession and has special interests in enabling better health care through the use of information technology.

For more such useful information and diabetes care tools which help you to Control Diabetes effectively and to see a video of me explaining the six steps to control your blood sugar levels go to

http://diabetescare.yoscare.in/diabetes_information

Do not be caught out because of a failure to appreciate the connection between salt and hypertension.

Salt is a very important element in our diet and has been in use for many thousands of years as both a preservative and to give added taste to our food. Indeed, in spite of the fact that many people in the West take it for granted, in a significant number of countries it is a major economic commodity and many readers will no doubt remember the important role played by salt in bringing British rule in India to and end in the middle of the last century.

Unfortunately however salt can also be a major contributory factor when it comes to the problem of high blood pressure.

Salt is a compound composed of sodium and chloride and when we are considering high blood pressure it is the quantity of sodium we eat that needs to be watched.

Initially it may seem that controlling your salt intake is merely a question of monitoring the quantity of salt which you put into your food while you are cooking and which you add to your food at the table. But, the true problem rests in the fact that most of the salt in our diet is found in the processed foods which most of us purchase and eat every day.

To ensure that you minimize your risk of high blood pressure you should keep your intake of salt under the government’s recommended daily consumption figure of 2,400 milligrams and here are just a few tips to help you do just that:

� Do not put salt on the|Remove salt from your} table. As long as you are getting a properly balanced diet your food will contain enough salt without any need to add more while eating, so simply remove the salt from your table.

� Learn how to to read food labels. Food labeling laws and most foods now carry nutritional information including the quantity of sodium which the food in question contains. You need to read the label very carefully though as often the sodium figure shown will apply to the whole pack or tin and sometimes it will apply to a single serving.

� Buy sodium free or low sodium products. An increasing range of foods today come in sodium free or low sodium options and, where possible, you should choose these over the regular product.

� Purchase low salt snacks. The majority of us like to snack but try to stick to things such as vegetables and fruit and, if you cannot live without your crisps, purchase varieties which are low in sodium or salt free.}

TheBloodPressureCenter.com is a comprehensive and growing blood pressure resource center covering everything from blood pressure symptoms to the problem of salt and high blood pressure

The Truth About Diabetes

Discover the Truth About the Connection Between Salt And High Blood Pressure