15 Popular Diabetes Myths That Might Affect Your Health Too (Part. II)
Myth #13: You can never drink alcohol
Fact: People with diabetes can drink alcohol as long as they double-check the sugar intake of each beverage they have.
According to Dr. Rodriguez, ‘alcohol contains empty calories which convert to sugar in the body and then metabolize as fat.’
Therefore, while you can enjoy a drink every now and then, you should choose sugar-free mixers (like diet soda instead of its sugary alternatives).
As for the ‘every now and then’ part, health specialists generally recommend sticking to one drink per day for ladies and two drinks per day for men. Here’s the equivalent in actual beverages:
- A 12-ounce beer;
- A 5-ounce glass of wine;
- ½ ounces of distilled spirits.
Myth #14: Gestational diabetes will stay forever
Fact: The chances of developing diabetes post-partum are divided, so it doesn’t necessarily mean this diagnosis will remain for the rest of your life.
I wanted to address this myth because 6-9% of pregnant women in our country are diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Usually, this condition should disappear on its own once the patient gives birth – but in some cases it doesn’t.
The worrying news is that 50% of the women will also get type 2 diabetes post-partum at some point. However, it also means that the other 50% will continue to live a healthy life, so even if you do get gestational diabetes, there’s no rule that diabetes will appear later in life as well.
Myth #15: You can’t prevent diabetes
Fact: This statement is only true for people with type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can be avoided by adopting healthier lifestyle choices.
Prediabetes is a diagnosis that basically yells ‘You need to make a change right now.’ It means that you’re at risk for developing type 2 diabetes and you will unless you take action immediately.
Unfortunately, more than one in three adults in our country have prediabetes and most of them don’t even acknowledge the gravity of their situation. It only takes a simple blood test to evaluate your health and get the right diagnosis.
With the right kind of support and prevention, everybody can live a normal, happy life. It takes responsibility, strength and patience – but if you think about your loved ones or how many enjoyable things there are around you, you’ll come to realize it’ll all be worth it.
