This week, celebrity Chef Paula Deen revealed that she was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2008. She's certainly not alone. According to the American Diabetes Association there are appoximately 25.8 million adults and children living with the disease.
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| Celebrity Chef Paula Deen |
The ADA recently surveyed the American public to find out how much people know about diabetes. The results show that there are still many misconceptions about the disease.
Myth: Diabetes is not a serious disease.
When asked to rank which disease (diabetes, breast cancer, AIDS) was responsible for the greatest number of U.S. deaths each year, not even half of respondents chose diabetes (42%).
Fact: Diabetes causes more deaths a year than breast cancer and AIDS combined. Two out of three people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke.
Myth: Eating too much sugar can lead to diabetes.
According to the survey, approximately one third of respondents knew this myth was false (32%).
Fact: No, it cannot. Type 1 diabetes is caused by genetics and unknown factors that trigger the onset of the disease. Type 2 diabetes is caused by genetics and lifestyle factors.
Being overweight does increase your risk for developing type 2 diabetes, and a diet high in calories, whether from sugar or from fat, can contribute to weight gain. If you have a history of diabetes in your family, eating a healthy meal plan and regular exercise are recommended to manage your weight.
Myth: If you are overweight or obese, you will eventually develop type 2 diabetes.
According the survey, approximately three in five respondents (59%) did not know that this is a false statement. In addition, more than half (53%) of respondents did not know that risk for developing type 2 diabetes increases with age.
Fact: Being overweight is a risk factor for developing this disease, but other risk factors such as family history, ethnicity and age also play a role. Unfortunately, too many people disregard the other risk factors for diabetes and think that weight is the only risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Most overweight people never develop type 2 diabetes, and many people with type 2 diabetes are at a normal weight or only moderately overweight.
Take this test to see your risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.
There are no “special” foods for diabetes; rather, some food choices are better than others. A healthy diabetes diet is a diet that would benefit anyone, says Alison Massey, RD, LDN, CDE, a registered dietitian and diabetes educator at the Diabetes Center of Mercy Medical in Baltimore. The American Diabetes Association recommends a diet that is low in fat with meals centered around whole-grain foods, vegetables, and fruits.
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