Five diabetes myths debunked
Get facts on five common falsehoods about diabetes.
25.06.2021

More than 463 million adults worldwide are living with diabetes, and while diabetes is a major health concern, it can sometimes be misunderstood. This is especially true for type 2 diabetes.
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes, the most common type of diabetes, is a condition characterized by insulin resistance. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps glucose get into the body’s cells to be used for energy. In people with type 2 diabetes, the body isn’t able to properly use insulin, which allows too much glucose to build up in the blood and causes high blood sugar.
Here are five common myths about type 2 diabetes explained.
01.
Myth: Type 2 diabetes is not a serious disease.
Reality: If type 2 diabetes is poorly managed, it can lead to serious complications. Diabetes management, including learning about the condition, adopting a healthy lifestyle and working with a health care provider to create a treatment plan, can help decrease the risk of complications, but this doesn’t mean that type 2 diabetes is not to be taken seriously.
02.
Myth: If you have type 2 diabetes, it’s impossible to miss the signs.
Reality: In many cases, symptoms of type 2 diabetes develop slowly, often over the course of several years, and can be so mild that it’s easy for them to go unnoticed. Many people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms at all, contributing to the fact that 1 in 2 adults with diabetes worldwide are undiagnosed.
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes may include:
- Excessive thirst and dry mouth
- Frequent urination
- Blurred vision
- Numbness or tingling in the hands and/or feet
- Slow healing wounds
03.
Myth: All people with type 2 diabetes are overweight.
Reality: People who are overweight are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, but there are a number of other personal and lifestyle factors that contribute to an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Some risk factors may include:
- Family history of diabetes
- Overweight
- Unhealthy diet
- Physical inactivity
- Increasing age
- High blood pressure
- Ethnicity
- Poor nutrition during pregnancy
04.
Myth: Type 2 diabetes only affects the pancreas.
Reality: Over time, type 2 diabetes can affect other parts of the body. For example, people with type 2 diabetes are twice as likely to have heart disease or a stroke as a person without diabetes. However, there are steps people can take that may help to reduce the risk of the more serious complications of type 2 diabetes. These include keeping blood sugar levels as close as possible to a person’s individualized goal, eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining blood pressure and cholesterol at levels set by a health care professional.
05.
Myth: It is unsafe for people with type 2 diabetes to exercise*.
Reality: Physical activity is very important for people with type 2 diabetes, as it can help to control blood sugar levels and lower the risk of diabetes-related complications like heart disease and nerve damage. But getting enough exercise doesn’t mean spending hours at the gym. Adults with type 2 diabetes can start with daily walks. Simple day-to-day activities like walking to the mailbox, or parking farther from the entrance are other options.
*Before starting any physical activity, talk to your health care provider about which activities may be most appropriate for you.
CH-NON-01260, 06/2021