5 Diabetes Diet Myths Everyone Should Know

Sharon Moore April 14, 2015

Like physical activity, diet has a very important role in managing diabetes. You probably heard a lot of food advice and dietary tips for diabetics, but how true are them? Is it true that if you have the disease, you can’t eat sweets anymore? Is eating too much sugar a cause of diabetes? Let’s find out.

Diabetes, like many other health problems, is tied to many diet myths. Let us go ahead and talk about such common misconceptions and uncover the truth behind them.

Eating too much sugar can lead to diabetes.

Diabetes occurs when your body is no longer able to turn food into energy. Your body basically breaks down the food you eat into glucose – a type of sugar that fuels your cells. Your pancreas help cells absorb glucose as fuel by producing a hormone called insulin. There are two major types of diabetes and they vary in the causes. Type 1 diabetes, occurs when the pancreas cannot make insulin. Type 2 diabetes, the more common one, happens when the pancreas does not make enough insulin, the insulin does not work properly, or both.

Carbs are not good for diabetes.

Many diabetic patients feel that having this disease marks a very plain, bland and boring diet because they will be restricted for eating so many different kinds of food, including carbohydrates. But actually, one can still enjoy a flavourful meal even if he or she has diabetes. What’s more, carbohydrates is a major part of a diabetic’s diet, as they have the greatest impact on our blood sugar levels. However, it should be complex carbs, like whole-grain breads, and high-fibre fruits and vegetables.

Diabetics need specialised meals.

The truth is that all foods considered healthy for diabetics are also good for the entire family, so they really don’t need specialised meals. A good mix of whole foods and lean protein is a great diet for people with diabetes.

Diabetes means saying ‘goodbye’ to desserts.

If you make desserts as an occasional reward for following your meal plan and that you follow portion control, it’s perfectly okay. You can make desserts more nutritious by using whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and reducing the amount of sugar in the recipe.

Diet food is best for diabetes.

Not all foods with the ‘diet’ label are good for diabetes. They are often more expensive and less healthy than their regular counterparts. So read the labels carefully. If it has ingredients that are very long and hard to pronounce, and the calories are high, chances are, those ‘diet’ foods aren’t good for diabetics, not even for healthy people.

When it comes to managing diabetes, one’s diet does not have to be a complicated issue to focus on. But of course, it needs planning, so you won’t have to be always thinking about what to eat for lunch or dinner each and every single day. There is only one simple rule to follow: choose foods that match your energy requirement and help your medications keep your blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible.