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Lies they tell you – LIES! Have I caught your attention with my theatrics? Great! 😉 I have some news to lay on ya. There are some myths about both Type 1 diabetes that you have probably heard, believed, and left it at that. I am here to set the record straight and spread some awareness about what is fake or real when it comes to understanding the life of someone you know and love who has diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes Awareness
I am sure some people out there think they know allll about what it is like to live with Type 1 diabetes and NOT even have it. Don’t get me wrong, I know there are those people who have loved ones or live with someone with diabetes, so they have a good amount of knowledge backing them up. But for the rest of you, I hope this information on myths about Type 1 diabetes is informative and aids in bringing diabetes awareness.
You Can’t Eat Sugar/Just Stop Eating Sugar and It Will Go Away
We can actually eat sugar! Ultimately, when your doctor says “eat things in moderation,” we have to take that extra seriously. And those things sometimes include sugar! No, I shouldn’t have a lot of it, but it’s not the end of the world most of the time. Also, if you are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, cutting sugar out completely is NOT going to be the cure for it.
This is one of the top Type 1 diabetes myths. Please learn the different between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. They are two very different diseases. In the simplest of terms…
With Type 1 diabetes, your body doesn’t produce insulin.
With Type 2 diabetes, your body produces insulin, but it doesn’t work properly.
You’re Cranky Because You’re Hungry, Not Because of Your Diabetes
Here’s the thing: When you are getting #hangry, that usually means that your blood sugar is low. Type 1 diabetes is all about managing my blood sugar (aka blood glucose) levels, so when they are low, it is almost like a crash. It takes a toll on our bodies which gives us a fun little mood swing that we can’t really control. So, dispel these myths about Type 1 diabetes and have some grace with people you know that have diabetes that may seem like they are in a funk that day.
It Doesn’t Matter the Type of Diabetes, It’s the Same
I honestly hope people don’t believe this! Type 1 and Type 2 are significantly different and it is crucial that you know your type. In a nutshell, Type 1 means that your body does not produce insulin and Type 2 means it doesn’t respond to insulin that well and can eventually not produce it in some cases. Each type has a very specific way of taking care of your body, so if you don’t know your type then you might be doing more harm than you think. Diabetes awareness is so important!
Contact your doctor if you think you may be showing signs ASAP.
You Have Diabetes Because of Your Lifestyle
For some reason, another one of the popular myths about Type 1 diabetes is that people think that if you are overweight and have a really unhealthy lifestyle, then you can or will get diabetes. Although there are overweight people that have it, yes, there are people like me who live a very active and healthy life that also have it. I didn’t get Type 1 diabetes because I ate junk food every day or drank tons of soda, it is a matter of how your pancreas functions. In most cases, it does not matter what your size or lifestyle is like, but being completely unhealthy may not help the cause.
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Diabetes is not contagious, Type 1 diabetes is not a death sentence, and diabetes is not the controller of my life. There are ways to handle it with grace and strength. By no means am I saying that is how I’ve handled it every day since my diagnosis, but it is possible. If just a few more people educated themselves on what diabetes is, then maybe there would be a chance to help find cures and develop other resources that can make it manageable for just about anyone. And not to mention that if they did, they could find out if they have it and take care of their bodies in the way it needs.
As always, if anyone out there has questions about diabetes or what life is like with it, I am more than happy to answer them! Stay educated, stay empathetic, and maybe one day there will be a day without any more diabetes!
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
Finally, some one stopped the rumours . As a diabetic i always get told I can’t eat that or I can’t do that
Very informative post and very helpful to those who do not know much about diabetes and the different types.
What a greta and very informative post about Diabetes. It is really good to know things about it because rate of people having a Diabetes is increasing.
a friend of mine has type 1 diabetes so I’ve been learning a lot about it.