9 Common Myths About Diabetes... Busted!

9 Common Myths About Diabetes... Busted!

- Kavita Devgan

The only way to deal with diabetes is with solid information and by making educated choices. Yet, even though India is the world capital of diabetes, thanks to the fact that our country has the highest population of people affected by the disease on earth, most of us are clueless about what diabetes is, how to prevent it, and how to cope with it.

True, diabetes is not an easy subject to master: research studies into the disease are still being carried out, meaning there’s always more to learn about it. But here is a ready reckoner to get you thinking (hopefully to the point where you’ll get tested).

Myth #1: You show no symptoms of diabetes, so you’re fine

About one quarter of people with diabetes don’t know they have it. “Often people stay in the pre-diabetic stage (borderline blood glucose level) for as long as 10 years, and this can be dangerous as there are no symptoms at all, but the damage is happening inside the body,” says Dr Sudhindra Kulkarni, diabetologist and endocrinologist at Fortis Mulund & Kalyan. The only way to keep on top of the disease is to do blood sugar tests regularly.

Myth #2: Once you are diagnosed, you have to cut all carbs at once

This is so not true. You must have carbs – they help the body function. However, you have to choose them with care. Swap refined grains for whole grains such as whole wheat atta, dalia, jowar, ragi, bajra and brown rice, all of which release glucose into your blood slowly. Keep in mind that you must combine complex carbs with quality protein, so that the release of glucose becomes even slower. (Additional advantage: this makes the meal more filling.) Make multi grain rotis by mixing jowar, bajra and besan attas with whole wheat atta.

Myth #3: If you’re slim, you have little chance of developing diabetes