Diabetes is a very common disease in which body blood sugar level exceeds the normal limit. There are many reasons which can lead you to diabetes. In this article, I will talk about some questions which come in mind about diabetes

I am overweight, will I always develop type 2 diabetes?

Many people around the world think that weight is the only risk that is involved in developing this disease. In reality, it is not true. There are many risk factors which are involved in this disease such as

Daily physical activity

Family history

Age

Ethnicity

To your surprise, there are many people with this disease which have normal body weight.

If I eat more sugar will it cause diabetes?

Basically eating more sugar in the diet is directly linked with the amount of weight you gain. So, whenever the amount of sugar in diet is high it will lead towards an increase in body weight & ultimately your risk of getting type 2 diabetes is high. This disease is not caused by eating sugar but due to factors like genetics and lifestyle.

Do sugary drinks cause diabetes?

Research has also shown that drinking sugary drinks is linked to type 2 diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends that people avoid drinking sugar-sweetened beverages to help prevent this disease. 

Sugary drinks also raise blood glucose (also called blood sugar) and can provide several hundred calories in just one serving. Just one 12-ounce can of regular soda has about 150 calories and 40 grams of carbohydrate. This is the same amount of carbohydrate in 10 teaspoons of sugar!

Sugar-sweetened beverages include beverages like:

• Regular soda
• Fruit punch
• Fruit drinks
• Energy drinks
• Sports drinks
• Sweet tea
• Other sugary drinks

Is diabetes a serious disease?

Diabetes causes more deaths per year than breast cancer and AIDS combined and having this disease nearly doubles your chance of having a heart attack. The good news is that managing your diabetes can reduce your risk for this disease complications.

Do people with diabetes need to eat special foods?

A healthy meal plan for people with diabetes is generally the same as healthy eating for anyone – low in saturated fat, moderate in salt and sugar, with meals based on lean protein, non-starchy vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and fruit. Foods that say they are healthier for people with this disease generally offer no special benefit. Most of them still raise blood glucose levels, are more expensive, and can also have a laxative effect if they contain sugar alcohols.

If you have diabetes, do you have to only eat small amounts of starchy foods, such as bread, potatoes, and pasta?

Starchy foods can be part of a healthy meal plan, but portion size is key. Bread, cereals, pasta, rice (whole grain options are better), and starchy vegetables like potatoes, yams, peas, and corn can be included in your meals and snacks. 

How much carbohydrate can a person with diabetes eat?

The amount of carbohydrate you need will vary based on many factors. You and your health care team can figure out the right amount for you. Once you know how many carbs to eat, choose your food and portion sizes to match.

Can people with diabetes eat sweets or chocolate?

If eaten as part of a healthy meal plan, or combined with exercise, sweets and desserts can be eaten by people with this disease. They are no more “off-limits” to people with this disease than they are to people without this disease. The key to sweets is to have a very small portion and save them for special occasions so you focus your meal on more healthful foods.

Can you catch this disease from someone else?

No. Although we don’t know exactly why some people develop diabetes and others don’t, we know this disease is not contagious. It can’t be caught like a cold or flu. There seems to be some genetic link in this disease, particularly type 2 diabetes.

Are people with diabetes more likely to get colds and other illnesses?

You are no more likely to get a cold or another illness if you have diabetes. People with this disease are advised to get flu shots. This is because any illness can make this disease more difficult to control, and people with this disease who get the flu are more likely than others to go on to develop serious complications.

If you have type 2 diabetes and your doctor says you need to start using insulin, does it mean you’re failing to take care of this disease?

Using insulin to get blood glucose levels to a healthy level is a good thing, not a bad one.

For most people, type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease. When first diagnosed, many people with this disease can keep their blood glucose at a healthy level with a combination of meal planning, physical activity, and taking oral medications. But over time, the body gradually produces less and less of its own insulin, and eventually, oral medications may not be enough to keep blood glucose levels in a healthy range. 

The fruit is a healthy food, so is it ok to eat as much of it as you want?

Because fruits contain carbohydrates, they do raise blood glucose and that needs to be taken into consideration when meal planning. Still, the fruit is a healthy food containing fiber and lots of vitamins and minerals, so talk to your dietitian about the amount, frequency, and types of fruits you should eat.