Myths vs. Facts in the war of Type1 Diabetes

-

💟 There are some myths that I have encountered on my ongoing adventurous safari with Type 1 Diabetes.

MYTH#1 People with Type 1 Diabetes can’t eat sugar.

FACT Type 1 Diabetics are always recommended to have a balanced diet that adds more colors to their meals. It includes the optimal amount of natural sugar with adjustable insulin doses as it acts as fuel to the body.

MYTH#2 Type 1 Diabetes is caused by eating excess sugar.

FACT This autoimmune disorder holds no cause-and-effect relationship with the eating habits of the person. It can occur at any age and only a healthy lifestyle makes its treatment easier.

MYTH#3 Insulin is the cure for Type 1 Diabetes.

FACT Insulin is not the cure but a treatment until we find a cure. Optimal insulin dosage with a healthy and active lifestyle is the key to increased life expectancy among Type 1 Diabetes.

MYTH#4 Injecting Insulin can cause insulin addiction and long term complications

FACT Insulin helps in preventing long-term complications attached to Diabetes which may be fatal if it persists. This hormone is secreted naturally by the pancreas in the body of a non-diabetic person, which has nothing to do with the term “addiction”.

MYTH#5 People with diabetes are more prone to sickness.

FACT The risk of being sick is the same for Diabetics and Non-Diabetics, while it is the after-effect that matters. they just need to take proper care and precautions once caught by illness. their body reacts differently to different illnesses, which can easily be cured through appropriate diagnosis and blood sugar control.

MYTH#6 Type 1 Diabetics can’t play sports.

FACT I have attached a few examples for reference, but the list is endless.

NAME

Diagnosed at the age of

 

Achievement

 

Words of Wisdom

 

SCOTT ALLAN

3

A Scottish, professional footballer: a midfielder for Scottish Premiership club Hibernian

“You just need to manage it and it will be fine”

GARY HALL JR.

25

An Olympic gold medallist, represented the United States at swimming in 1996, 2000, and 2004, winning gold in 2000 and 2004

 

Regular testing of blood glucose levels and despite enduring crippling fatigue, he was able to complete swim practices and increased the length of his work-outs

RYAN REED

17

an American professional car racing driver and driver coach who competes part-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, driving the Chevrolet Silverado for CMI Motorsports, as well as the No. 24 Chevrolet Silverado for GMS Racing.

“Don’t let Diabetes take away from your dreams. Don’t let Diabetes emotionally defeat you. It’s incredible the technology we have nowadays to help manage your Diabetes. If you want to, go out and chase your dreams, and don’t let Diabetes stop you from doing that.”

 

MELANIE STEPHENSON

13

A sprinter who run for Wales in the 60m, 100m, and 200m sprints, picking up several national titles

 

She initially took up the sport to keep healthy and control her blood glucose levels but took so well to running that she soon had her trainer to help her compete at a national and international level.

 


MYTH#7 Type 1 Diabetes ground of job denial

There is a very strong school of thought that Diabetes is not a disease but a disorder that could be managed. It does not define a person’s ability to work effectively. From politicians to comedians, musicians to authors, actors to showbusiness, no field in the entire universe can confine the euphoric diabetics.

MYTH#8 Type 1 Diabetic parent give birth to Type 1 Diabetics children

FACT 80% of the people living with diabetes have no family history of the disease. Apart from one’s genital factor, environmental factors and lifestyle also play an essential role in determining the vulnerability of a child developing non-communicable diseases later.

MYTH#9 People with Type 1 Diabetes have a short lifespan.

FACT As per the World Diabetes Journal, the ongoing longevity of both diabetic and non-diabetic patients depend on glycaemic control, blood pressure control, avoidance of excessive weight gain and lipid control. As per Dagogo-Jack, researchers observed a 44% decline in overall risk of death for every 10% decline in HbA1c level.

MYTH#10 Type 1 Diabetics have a very low level of IQ

FACT IQ level of a person totally depends on practical intelligence, not measuring your creativity and curiosity. Poverty, Nutrition, and stress are the major factors that affect our IQ. Having a higher IQ never guarantees success as a lower IQ does not guarantee failure. It is hard work, perseverance, strong work ethics, and good habits which improve the emotional well-being index of an individual.

Famous Indian TV Actress Sonam Kapoor was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 17, while Nick Jonas, the pop singer, was diagnosed at 13. The energetic and radiant looks are always commendable for Type 1 Diabetics.

 

Note: We are never born with the purpose to counteract the Myths we encounter in our journey; we are here to create facts.💫💫



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My Silver Strands at 27🩶

-
💜 I love adding colours to my world be it on a canvas or a sketchbook. But when it comes to my hair, I choose not to colour them. I recently came across an interesting fact: A butterfly cannot see its own wings. Others admire its beauty, but it remains unaware of its own splendour. Similarly, people around me appreciate my clarity, maturity, and perspective on life, yet they struggle to accept my grey hair. Their resistance confuses me every time. Ironically, I am doing PhD on the issues related to ageing populations, and it seems my body took the topic too seriously! Jokes apart, my hair has become an unintentional statement one that I now wear with quiet confidence.  I get constant reminders from people walking on the road to attending conferences and weddings about these silver linings .  The irony? I don’t notice my grey strands unless I look in a mirror. And so, I let them (both people and hair) be, just as I let life unfold naturally and in its own time. Being a  ...
Read more

In His Time, I Grew

-
It’s been 10 years since I began studying economics, nothing more than learning to estimate costs, quantify variables, and evaluate outcomes. But for the past 27 years, I’ve lived as the second daughter of a man whose time, love, and effort can never be measured by any economic modelling or empirical evidence. No formula can capture the cost of his sacrifices as standing under the harsh sun outside my exam centre, gazing at hospital corridors during my checkups, running for college admissions, or waiting alone on an airport bench through the night, just to see me return safely from my first international solo trip. I may not be living a perfectly healthy and wealthy life, but he always makes sure I’m living one worth everything. And every time someone says, “Bilkul papa pe gayi hai”, my heart swells with pride because that’s the best compliment I could ever receive. His timeless efforts have sparked a feeling in me to transform the moment I was born with the words "Firse beti hui ...
Read more

The Pain and The Gain🌻

-
The very first rule of living with nephropathy is simple yet harsh: no painkillers for the rest of my life. At first, that thought felt unbearable, as how could I possibly manage pain without relief? But over time, I’ve learned something essential: pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. Pain will always show up, but suffering comes from how we choose to respond to it. Life has taught me that when the quick fixes are taken away, when you can no longer numb discomfort, you’re left with only one option: to face it. And in that facing, something shifts. Pain stops being an enemy to fight against and becomes a teacher. It teaches you your limits, your strength, and your resilience. I think of it like living with photosensitive eyes. Brightness overwhelms me, intensity blinds me, and yet over time, my eyes adjust. That sensitivity, though uncomfortable, also allows me to notice things others might miss, like the subtle hues, the quiet details, the richness of the world’s colours. I am no...
Read more