Have you ever heard anyone say, “Eating too much sugar will give you diabetes”? But is that really true? People usually throw these words around to make you eat healthier, but they aren’t necessarily true.
The two most common types of diabetes are Type one and Type two Diabetes. People who have type one diabetes have a strong genetic component that causes it. This type of diabetes is when the immune system attacks the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. A high sugar consumption does not cause this type of diabetes.
People with type two diabetes also have a strong genetic component that causes it. This type of diabetes is when the body doesn’t produce or use insulin effectively enough to regulate blood sugar. Genetics, age, and the lifestyle you live all do play a role on how you get type two diabetes. In a way, too much sugar can cause type two diabetes but that is only a small part of the how. High-sugar diets can contribute to weight gain, which is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, it is not the main cause.
Another myth is that people with diabetes cannot enjoy a normal life. While it does require careful management, it doesn’t prevent teenagers from playing sports or different social activities. With proper planning, monitoring, and help from others, managing your diabetes will feel like second nature. Not taking care of your diabetes can add problems to a teenagers life like making them feel ill, have mood swings, and can impact their sports. Making sure you are doing things like checking your blood sugar, counting carbohydrates, and taking insulin, teenagers can live full active lives. Discrediting this myth helps many teenagers feel like they can embrace their diabetes without worrying how it will impact their lives.
