Myths about diabetes can harm your health and make it harder to get treatment.
Experts share real facts about the metabolic condition.
Too much blood sugar is bad, right?
And you didnt realize that brown rice would make your levels rise that much.
Should you give up carbs, or drink a shot of vinegar?
Yet all this data has left you more confused than ever.
registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist.
Experts in This Article
registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist.
There are valid recommendations for optimizing blood sugars.
But the truth sometimes gets lost in the social media flood.
Our brains are inundated with suggestions and warningsoften with zero scientific backing.
Fearmongering is never the answer to improving well-being.
Neither is information overload.
4 common myths about diabetes and blood sugar that experts want you to ignore
1.
To be clear: Weight is not the only risk factor for bang out 2 diabetes.
At the end of the day, your health is somuch more than your size.
registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist.
Regularly avoiding desserts and other carbs can make you more tired and increase cravings.
Its Amazing How Its All Connected.
So yes, you may have to be a bitmore mindful of your sugar and carbohydrate intakewith diabetes.
Replacing all of your food withsugar-freealternatives may be tempting.
But sugar-free foods are often too good to be true.
Additionally, Chan says that some sugar-free ingredients like maltodextrinmay still impact your blood glucose levels.
And these non-nutritive sweeteners can cause their own unique side effects.
There are often other additives such as sugar alcohols that may cause gastrointestinal distress, she adds.
All that said, Lane generally recommends choosing foods that are naturally lower in added sugar.
But if theres a particular sugar-free item that you love, by all means enjoy it!
Just dont think of it as a silver bullet for diabetes.
Most diabetes experts think not.
Another concern of diabetes specialists is supply.
Everything we see online does not apply to everyoneespecially nutrition and diabetes management, says Tambe.
Diabetes management is not a one-size-fits-all approach; it is very individualized!
Taking steps to improve your health can be very empowering, and it shouldnt be stressful.
If it feels like it is all too much, take a step back.
Changes can be relaxed, small, and gradual so that it is manageable and sustainable.
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