Truth.

There are two types of diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is genetic and unpreventable. It occurs because your pancreas does not produce enough insulin.

Type 2 diabetes is preventable because it is caused by lifestyle factors such as being overweight, alcohol intake and a lack of exercise. Over 90 per cent of diabetics in the world suffer from Type 2 diabetes.

Obese people are especially at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, which happens when insulin receptors in your body become blocked or resistant to signals.

Before Type 2 diabetes develops, people go through a stage called “pre-diabetic” – this is when your body is struggling to maintain a good blood glucose balance. In Singapore, 12 per cent of people suffer from pre-diabetes. One-third go on to become diabetic, another one-third remain pre-diabetic. And the final one third? They use exercise and weight-loss to get back to normal glucose levels..

Myth.

Fruit does contain fructose – a fruit sugar – but it also contains fibre and phytochemicals. These are healthy plant chemicals and they are good for you. Health authorities recommend that adults eat 2 serves of fruit per day (150g each). Even if you follow a very low carbohydrate diet, research shows that fresh fruit reduces the incidence of some cancers, heart disease and diabetes.

Myth.

Chocolates and red wine do contain various antioxidants which have an anti-inflammatory action and may help against some degenerative contentions. But chocolate is also high in saturated fat. And too much saturated fat can lead to clogged arteries, heart disease, excess weight and diabetes. Alcohol contains a surprising amount of calories, plus too much alcohol can lead to fatty liver, and heart and brain problems.

So if you love red wine and chocolate it;s best to have them in moderation. If you want to enjoy the health bneenmfoits of the polyphenols they contain without the drawbacks, eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, particularly brightly coloured vegetables. They are full of antioxidants

Myth.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to cure Type 2 diabetes yet. However, it is possible to go into remission within the first five years of diagnosis if you lose weight, exercise and eat properly. Remission means blood sugar levels (also known as blood glucose levels) are below the diabetes range, without you needing to take any diabetes medication. Remission is when your HbA1c — a measure of long-term blood glucose levels — remains below 48mmol/mol or 6.5 per cent for at least six months.

However, remission can reverse, so do keep up your exercise and healthy eating programme and see your doctor regularly. The bottom line with diabetes is that cutting out one ingredient – such as sugar or white bread – is not the answer. You have to look at your entire eating plan and lifestyle. So if you avoid sugar but you are overweight, and never exercise you may still be at risk.

Myth.

It’s great if you avoid excess sugar by ordering drinks that are “siew dai” or less sugar. But avoiding diabetes – or controlling it – is really more about your entire diet and lifestyle.

Many people do choose to eat less carbs for weight loss, or so they have less swings in levels of blood sugar or blood glucose.. But even if you do not eat carbs or sugar, your body makes its own blood glucose from protein or fat stores.

Plus, many foods which are high in carbohydrates, such as grains, fruits, starchy vegetables, yoghurt and milk and legumes like lentils, also contain lots of healthy nutrients and minerals. So it’s not a great idea to cut them out completely. If you do want to eat less carbs, cut back on treats like cakes, white bread, white rice, soft drinks, and savoury snacks such as mixed nuts, muruku and french fries.

Truth

Exercise is great for everyone and we should all move more often. Regular daily exercise is important for a healthy heart and lungs and it keeps you flexible and strong. But 30 minutes of exercise a day will not necessarily burn off enough calories to control your weight or glucose levels unless you also eat sensibly.

The average man would have to do pushups for over 60 minutes to burn off one slice of chocolate cake. Do you think you could do an hour of pushups?

And the average woman would have to do jumping jacks for 35 minutes to burn off a small serve of french firies. It’s hard to exercise enough to make up for bad food choices.

Truth.

No.Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where your own immune system kills the cells that make insulin. So treatment for Type 1 diabetes is insulin, right from the start.

Type 2 diabetes can develop later in life, and it starts with insulin resistance – this is when your body finds it hard to keep various body chemicals in balance.Among other problems, this means your pancreas has to work extra hard to try and keep things in balance. Eventually this hard-working organ gets exhausted and stops. That’s when the diabetes develops more and you may need insulin. It’s estimated some 67 per cent of people with Type 2 diabetes need insulin.

Your doctor will analyse your individual situation and prescribe from a range of medications, you might get different tablets, non-insulin injectables, and eventually insulin, If you’re not sure about your medication or what kind of diabetes you have, do speak to your doctor.

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Text: Bauer SYndication /ARE Media