my country is one of the countries with the fastest growing diabetes prevalence in the world, and about 150 million people are at high risk of diabetes.
It is very important to control blood sugar by taking medicine and adjusting diet, but many people have some misunderstandings about diabetes.
Myth 1: Diabetes must be inherited?
Not necessarily! Diabetes does have genetic factors. Parents with diabetes have a significantly higher risk of developing diabetes in their children. They belong to a high-risk group susceptible to diabetes. However, in the pathogenesis of diabetes, the contribution of genetic factors is limited, and the decisive role is mainly the acquired environmental factors.
An unhealthy lifestyle is the first to bear the brunt. Genetic susceptibility is not to be feared. By maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you can stay away from diabetes. Experts say that genetic factors are just loaded with “gunpowder”, and environmental factors pull the “trigger”.
Myth 2: Eat less sugar to avoid diabetes?
Wrong! Diabetes is not directly related to eating sugar. Eating more sugar may not lead to diabetes, and eating less sugar may not be impossible. The incidence of diabetes is related to genetic factors, improper diet, lack of exercise, obesity, smoking, alcoholism and many other factors.
If the islet function is good, no matter how much sugar you take in, you can use it effectively, and your blood sugar will not rise. Conversely, if the pancreatic islet function is abnormal due to various reasons, then eating less or even no sugar will lead to the occurrence of diabetes. If you don’t think about diabetes, you can’t just eat less sugar.
Myth 3: Only fat people get diabetes?
Not necessarily! Obese people are indeed more likely to develop diabetes, especially those with abdominal obesity. The longer the belt, the closer you are to diabetes. But this does not mean that only obese people develop diabetes.
Thin people are equally likely to develop diabetes if they have other risk factors for diabetes. Moreover, there are not a few thin people suffering from diabetes. Diabetes prefers fat people, but does not dislike thin people. Preventing diabetes is everyone’s responsibility, no matter if you are fat or thin.
Myth 4: Can you stop eating sweets and fruit if you have diabetes?
Certainly not! Under the premise of reasonable control of total calories and balanced nutrition for diabetic patients, no food is absolutely taboo. In the case of good blood sugar control, as long as the total amount is reasonably controlled, these can still be taken in moderation. But remember not to eat too much, it can be eaten as a snack and eaten between two meals.
Myth 5: People with diabetes can’t drink porridge?
Wrong! Of course, diabetics can drink porridge, but they need to master some skills. Congee does affect blood sugar, but the effect is relatively short-lived. After drinking porridge, blood sugar rises rapidly, but also falls rapidly.
Recommended porridge drinking tips: eat less pure rice porridge; add some beans or grains when cooking porridge; do not cook for too long; let it cool before drinking; eat with protein and vegetable ingredients; Eat vegetables first and then drink porridge; limit consumption of porridge, slow down the speed of eating and drink slowly, and understand blood sugar changes through blood sugar monitoring; those receiving insulin or secretagogues should beware of hypoglycemia. When blood sugar stays high or fluctuates greatly, drink porridge with caution.