Of the numerous medical myths that exist in today’s world, many are related to diabetes. These myths and misconceptions are not only limited to treatment, monitoring and lifestyle management and social aspects of diabetes, but also involves aetiology, epidemiology, clinical features, and prognosis.

Some common myths

Social discrimination is common in diabetes, but potentially dangerous myths and misconceptions occur in young people with diabetes.

Diabetes – a punishment from God

Some of the myths associated with diabetes include diabetes being considered to be a punishment from God, a result of wrong eating habits of the child or a result of eating sugar and ghee by the mother during pregnancy. The truth is: in today’s lifestyle each of us is threatened by diabetes. The fact is that, it is the combination of autoimmune, genetic, and environmental factors which leads to development of diabetes.

Girls do not develop diabetes

In most countries, Type-1 diabetes is more common in girls, but in India more male youth seek medical care and this leads to the myth that girls do not develop diabetes. The fact is that, girls due to social misconceptions are not taken to doctors.

Only obese people get diabetes

Another misconception is that only obese people get diabetes, and because of it lean people are not screened for diabetes. On the other hand, only lean youth are thought to have Type-1 diabetes and obese kids are not screened for Type-1 diabetes. Many common complaints like menstrual disorders, amenorrhea, vulvo-vaginitis or penile skin irritation are never considered a result of diabetes and are treated otherwise.

Treatment of diabetes in the young is the same as that of diabetes in adults

People are often misguided in their notion that treatment of diabetes in the young is the same as that of diabetes in adults. Many children are treated sub-optimally with pre-mixed insulin instead of basal-bolus regime as it is considered to be a treatment for bad diabetes. The benefits of intensive insulin therapy are lost because of these misconceptions and this results in lack of patient motivation. The fact is: intensive insulin therapy not only has long-term good effects but also provides flexibility to the life of youth with diabetes.

Diabetes affects fertility

It is assumed that every boy with diabetes is impotent and every girl is infertile. In case they are lucky enough to have child, it is assumed that there are 100 per cent chances of developing diabetes. The truth is that impotence and infertility are complications of poorly controlled diabetes only over a long period of time. A boy or girl with well-controlled diabetes is as sexually active as anyone without diabetes. The chances of an offspring developing diabetes are less than 15 per cent.

Diabetics don’t live long

People think that youth with diabetes are not going to attain adulthood as it is slow death. But, the fact is that people with diabetes can live a better and successful life, a near normal life with their endocrinologist being their best friend and other referrals like diabetic educators, dieticians, behavioural specialists, podiatrists, ophthalmologists, dentists and physicians from other specialties helping them through various phases of life.

Diabetes monitoring is very expensive

Monitoring is thought to be very expensive and unnecessary. Society assumes that glucose monitoring devices are not accurate, but this is not true. The importance of the HbA1c test is not understood by physicians and patients alike. People are also concerned about sugar levels and do not believe in annual health checkups for early diagnosis of complications. Creating awareness and education among people with diabetes is very important.

Dealing with diabetics

Youth with diabetes suffer from extremes. On one hand, they are neglected by society and their families. They are often put on a near-starvation diet which has been the case since over a century. The absence of urine glucose keeps the family and the patient happy, unfortunately keeps the young person suffering from malnutrition. On the other hand, few kids are fed on a high fat diet by their families trying to increase their weight. People with diabetes need a balanced diet which is tasty, not a boiled bland diet as is thought. Bitter gourd [karela] vegetable well-cooked is used as a treatment for diabetes, forgetting the large quantity of oil which is used to cook it.

Kids with diabetes are either overprotected by the family, not allowing them to go for games or pushed too much for physical exercise as a substitute for insulin. Yoga is good for health, but does not burn calories and is not a substitute for an active lifestyle.

Conclusion

As said by Joslin, the father of Diabetology: A person with diabetes, who knows the most, lives the longest. Let us get together to eradicate myths and misconceptions related to diabetes, improve knowledge among doctors, people with diabetes as well as the society at large and let us change diabetes.

The post Understanding Diabetes in the Youth appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

“Oh doctor, don’t tell me I have diabetes. How could this have happened? Will I be able to lead a normal life? What will my relatives say? Will I be able to get married?”

These were questions Archana, a 22-year old girl, raised when suddenly confronted with the fact that she had diabetes. Yes, Archana had every reason to be apprehensive, but certainly not anxious. Thanks to advances in modern science, control and treatment are both possible for people diagnosed early with diabetes and patients can now safely lead an uncomplicated life. But then why do people with diabetes in India still lead complicated, often stressful lives. In my observation, a number of extraneous factors have played a negative and serious role in India, still contributing to the rapid proliferation of diabetes in the country. But they need to be reviewed to improve the quality of life for people with diabetes.

Civic callousness

Gone are the days when school books taught children to walk on the pavement and not on streets. Our widened roads have eroded onto the pavement space, leaving absolutely no space for walkers, joggers and cyclists to meet with their daily exercise regimens. If we are to become a diabetes-friendly society, people with or without diabetes must ensure that they walk half hour aftermeals.

Social stigmas

Our society has always been beset with stigmatised issues and diabetes is one of them. Diabetes can occur anytime if it has to occur, before or after marriage. Marriage portals like diabetesmatrimony.com has been the perfect platform for men and women to get to know each other, know their diabetes state and settle down to a family of their own. I think it’s time for relatives and family members to come out of the closet [a call to action] and talk more freely about diabetes state.

Culinary tastes

One would wonder why the term culinary in a subject that is largely in the medical space. Perhaps the biggest driver to the higher prevalence of diabetes in India is the imbalance in our culinary spread. Natural juices have given way to aerated drinks, rice and idlis have given way to burgers and pizzas. Globalisation has brought in globesity, thanks to our indulgence in fast foods. Are our restaurants, school and college canteens and travel menus diabetes-friendly?

If we have to help people close to us, we must each come forward and do our bit to provide a better quality of life for people with diabetes in India. Let India not be perceived to be the diabetes capital.but rather the “diabetes care capital” of the world.

References:

• Diabetes Atlas, International Diabetes Federation, third edition, 2006.
• Diabetes. WHO – Chronic disease information sheets.

The post Let’s fight Diabetes appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.