Shooting down diabetes myths

Considering all the factors involved with diabetes, there's plenty of room for misinformation. Some of the more persistent misconceptions:


Myth: If you develop diabetes, you can never eat sugar again.
Truth: People with diabetes can eat sweets, but sugary treats must be part of a careful meal plan (as they should be for people without diabetes).

Myth: It's possible to have just a touch of diabetes.
Truth: Either you have diabetes or you don't. Even if your type 2 case doesn't require insulin injections (type 1 always does), it still demands medical attention and careful lifestyle choices.

Myth: I feel fine, so my blood sugar's fine.
Truth: High or low blood sugar doesn't always produce symptoms. Regular monitoring is the only way to know for sure where you stand.

Myth: I'm a pro at self-management; checkups are just a waste of my time.
Truth: Your treatment program is never a done deal. Thanks to ongoing research, the medical community is constantly learning more about this complex condition and how best to deal with it. The best way to keep up is to keep up your regular doctor visits.

Myth: If I don't need insulin or drugs, my diabetes isn't serious.
Truth: Diabetes is always serious. Even if diet and exercise keep your blood sugar in check, your cells are still insulin resistant and your condition could get worse if you don't control it.

Inspiration to start writing Blog

Even though I used to spend considerable time on the computer ( now I can't spend much time on the computer due to several reasons such as diminished vision, overwhelming health problems, weakness and depression ), it never crossed my mind to write blog. Dr. Chiu at Northside hospital, one of the great doctor I ever met, suggested me to write blog about my health complications. I always type a document about my health problems before visiting either doctor or ER. As I can't speak loud, and I don't have anybody to accompany me to the hospital, communication with the doctors is my biggest challenge. I know very well about my body, and I analyze my health well in the document. I not only mention about my health problems in the document, I also mention about my doubts and the tests that I need to undergo. Unfortunately, most of the time doctors don't take time to read my document. Dr. Chiu is exception. He always reads my document and answers all my concerns. He is very quick in pinpointing what is serious and what is not. He is very intelligent. He is the one that suggested me to start writing journal about my health.

I always wanted to write my autobiography, so I never thought of writing blog. Now I don't have much choices. Lately, my health is very deteriorated. Almost all my organs are inflamed or acting up. I have too many chronic health problems. I am the live example of how minor negligence in managing the care could lead to life threatening catastrophic health problems. I don't have freedom to manage my own care ( I don't want to get into details why I don't have freedom to manage my care. The reason to start writing blog is to educate my fellow spinal cord injury individuals about some of the complications and the remedy to reduce the complications ). I don't have anybody to administer insulin ( I have diabetes and the failure to control my blood sugar has led to many serious complications ). I have multiple food allergies. I am constantly losing my weight. And infections have become part of my life. For some reasons, quadriplegics don't live longer. Remember, Christopher Reeves? Simple bed sore killed him. I have developed too many serious health complications, I don't have hopes of living longer. People might say that I am paranoid when I speak about not having hopes. That is the truth whether anybody agree with me or not.