In Fact, There Are 7 Confusing Myths About Diabetes

JAKARTA – According to data from the International Diabetes Federation, Indonesia is among the 10 largest people with diabetes. In 7th place with an additional 6.2 percent since the pandemic. Given these data, often people are mistaken about diabetes.

For a clearer understanding, here are the myths about diabetes that need to be straightened out.

Myth 1: Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed in childhood

Type 1 diabetes is a form of autoimmune disease that is often diagnosed during childhood. In fact, type 1 diabetes can be diagnosed at any age. Launching All Womans Talk, in America around 1.7 million people are said to have type 1 diabetes.

Confusion often arises when differentiating from type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is usually caused by lifestyle problems. Such as being overweight and having a family history of type 2 diabetes.

This means that both types of diabetes can be experienced at any age. Furthermore, regular medical check-ups and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are preventive measures to prevent diabetes.

Myth 2: People with prediabetes will develop diabetes

Prediabetes occurs when a person has fasting plasma glucose levels as high as 100 to 125 mg/dL, but does not yet have diabetes. People who have prediabetes can make lifestyle changes and can reduce the risk of developing diabetes.

Myth 3: Only overweight people have diabetes

Being overweight or overweight does have the potential to increase diabetes even though the risk of diabetes can be experienced when you have a family history of type 2 diabetes, especially if you are over 45 years old.

So, keep cholesterol levels low and be physically active and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Myth 4: Gestational diabetes always leads to full-blown diabetes

Gestational diabetes affects 200,000 women every year. Gestational diabetes will theoretically decline after pregnancy. While 50 to 60 percent of women diagnosed continue to have diabetes there are many ways to reduce their risk.

For example, by losing weight and exercising for 30 minutes every day to reduce the risk of diabetes.

Myth 5: Diabetes will gradually lead to decreased body health

This understanding is the most dangerous, because diabetes does not take much time to begin to damage the body. A 2020 study found that 20 percent of people with newly diagnosed diabetes already have retinopathy or decreased vision.

People with diabetes are also more likely to have a heart attack regardless of their previous diagnosis. That is, immediately recognize and change your lifestyle to be healthier.

Myth 6: Conditions get worse when injecting insulin

It should be understood that people with type 2 diabetes need to take insulin. This is the most effective way to control and manage diabetes. If you can control diabetes through lifestyle management, it means you can avoid insulin.

Myth 7: Insulin causes complications

Insulin is not the first treatment for diabetes. If possible controlled through healthy lifestyle changes, then insulin can be the last option. By the time doctors prescribe insulin, diabetes may have caused problems with the nerves, heart, kidneys, or eyes.

In fact, insulin can help prevent complications that have already occurred and reduce further damage to organs.

So that understanding does not get more complicated and everyone's condition will vary, it is advisable to regularly consult an expert. Do not forget to maintain health and avoid the risk of diabetes from an early age.