One of the services we offer at Men’s Vitality Center is diabetes management. Diabetes is a serious disease, but with proper education and management, people with diabetes can live healthy and normal lives. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation out there about diabetes. Here, we will take on common myths about diabetes.
MYTH: Diabetes is caused by excessive sugar consumption.
We have all heard someone joke about how they “caught diabetes” after indulging on too many sweets. When people say this, they are perpetuating the myth that diabetes is caused by sugar. This misconception likely comes from the fact that diabetes is related to the production of insulin, the hormone that helps our bodies use glucose (a type of sugar) for energy. Type 1 diabetes is developed when the pancreas stops producing insulin, and type 2 diabetes occurs when the body is not using insulin properly. Neither has anything to do with sugar consumption.
MYTH: If you are overweight, you will develop diabetes.
Being overweight is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, but this is not the only one. Most overweight people do not have diabetes, and many people with type 2 diabetes are at a normal weight. Type 1 diabetes is not connected to weight.
MYTH: You can catch diabetes from another person.
Diabetes is not like a cold; it is not contagious. Diabetes is caused by genetics and certain lifestyle factors.
Though diabetes is serious, it does not mean that your life is over. If you have diabetes, Men’s Vitality Center can help you with diabetes management. Contact us today!