Two Life Threatening Myths About Diabetes Debunked

There are myths on just about everything that one can think about, particularly regarding the subject of diabetes. If you’re a diabetic then it is imperative to separate out the fiction from the facts and understand the realities of living with this disease. Luckily, most myths that you may hear about diabetes are not nearly as pessimistic as they sound. In point of fact, many are simply outrageous stories. The following are a few examples of myths about diabetes that you might or might not have heard about:

Myth #1: Becoming hypoglycemic could cause brain damage since it kills brain cells.

An occurrence of hypoglycemia can happen exceedingly fast and leave a diabetic with an excruciating headache that is attended by by feelings of weakness and occasionally general mental confusion. Because of these complications that result from hypoglycemia, people have assumed that this might be related directly to the destruction of brain cells and will eventually destroy the function of your mind.

However, numerous studies over the years have demonstrated that individuals who experience hypoglycemia do not lose any mental function whatsoever. Children on the other hand, may suffer some loss of mental functioning since their brains are not yet fully developed.

The good news is that the human body has an endless supply of hormones that are capable of reversing the effects of hypoglycemia. In addition to your body’s natural defenses, there are things that you can do directly to prevent hypoglycemia. For example, before commencing any exercise or strenuous physical activity be sure to check your blood glucose levels. Remember to keep at hand an emergency supply of glucose or a small snack that your body can absorb rapidly.

Myth #2: Diabetics are not able to exercise.

This is probably the most dangerous myth about diabetes that can have the most damaging consequences. In fact, the reverse is true. If anybody needs to exercise it is indviduals who have diabetes! Regular routine exercise is probably the most beneficial preventative measure that a person can undertake in order to defend against and possible prevent complications that result from type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

However, this does not mean that if you’ve never exercised in your entire life and are over the age of 40, that you should run out and start running in marathons. It does mean that you can slowly start conditioning your body with low-impact exercises such as long walks and light calisthenics that you can build up over time.

There will be times when diabetes can prevent you from exercising,for example when a person is suffering from other complications of diabetes such as a severe kidney infection, or hemorrhaging of the eyes, etc. However, this is just common sense and iresuming an exercise routine on a daily basis once these symptoms subside is perfectly acceptable with a doctor’s approval.

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