The internet can be an excellent resource and a wealth of knowledge. However, it can also be a pitfall of a ton of false information which can make getting to the bottom of the truth difficult.

Do you ever find yourself searching for something and you wind up on a web page full of inaccurate information, or at least what seems like falsified information?

If so, you are not alone. Many people are having a hard time finding truthful and honest information when searching about diabetes. This is why I want to debunk some of the most common myths so that you can crack the code and understand what you truly need to know about Type 2 diabetes.

Let’s get started.

Myth #1: Being Overweight is the Only Reason You Develop Type 2 Diabetes

While being overweight certainly puts you at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, many other risk factors come into play. Things like family history, ethnicity, and age can also be the culprits.

The problem is that many people put all the emphasis on being overweight as the primary cause of diabetes that they don’t take the other risk factors seriously. All risk factors play a role in your chances of developing diabetes, so it’s important to take them all into account.

Myth #2: If You Have Diabetes, You Can Only Eat Diabetes-Specific Foods

This is entirely not true. In fact, many diabetic-labeled foods happen to have lots of artificial sweeteners in them which could be problematic as well. If you have diabetes, consume a diet rich in whole foods, low in saturated and trans-fats, and low in salt, and you will be on your way to eating clean.

Your focus should not be on purchasing foods labeled “diabetic-friendly” but rather enjoying more foods without food labels such as vegetables, beans, and low sugar fruits.

#3: You Can Eat as Much Fruit as You Want with Diabetes

As much as most of us wouldn’t mind enjoying fruit all day, fruit does contain quite a bit of sugar. If  you have diabetes, it’s important to watch your sugar and carbohydrate intake. It’s for this reason that eating large quantities of fruit is not the best idea when you have diabetes.

It’s also important to watch what you eat with the fruit. It’s a very good idea to pair a piece of fruit with some fat and fiber to slow down the absorption of sugar. You can also choose fruits that are lower in sugar such as berries.

Just be mindful of the type of fruit you eat, what you eat it with, and how often you eat it.

I hope these three myths have been debunked for you! Remember: when searching for information about diabetes, choose websites you know are reliable, and you won’t get stuck believing something that may not be true!

[expand title=”References“]
American Diabetes Association. Link URL. Accessed January 24, 2017.
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