Diabetes is a disease with high prevalence in Brazil and worldwide. Probably for this reason much talk about the importance of prevention and control of the disease. But still, it is a fact that there are many doubts and even? Misinformation? about the subject.
And for both prevention and treatment, it is very important to know and pay attention to the facts about diabetes, running away from myths, but not forgetting the reality about the disease. For example, many people question whether diabetes is really a serious problem, or just avoiding candy is enough to control the disease. But these are just examples of common doubts on the subject.
After all, what is diabetes?
Camila Secches, endocrinologist graduated by SBEM (Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabology), specialist in Nutrology by ABRAN (Brazilian Association of Nutrology), professor of endocrinology at Itajubá Medical School, explains that diabetes is a chronic disease that happens when the body does not produce insulin or cannot properly use the insulin it produces.
Insulin is a hormone that controls the amount of sugar in the blood (blood glucose). Our bodies need insulin to use the glucose in the food we eat as a source of energy. If the body does not manufacture insulin or cannot use the insulin it produces properly, blood glucose becomes high (hyperglycemia). If this picture persists, it can lead to damage to organs such as blood vessels and nerves ?, highlights the endocrinologist.
There are two very common types of diabetes. Type 1 is caused by genetic factors and other unknown causes. In type 1, the body stops producing insulin, so blood glucose rises. Type 2 is caused by lifestyle-related genetic factors. Being overweight contributes to Type 2 development, and a high-calorie diet favors weight gain regardless of the source of calories, Camila explains.
Diabetes Myths and Truths
Below, professionals clarify the main myths and truth about the disease.
1. Diabetes affects both women and men of all ages.
Truth. Camila points out that diabetes affects both men and women and can occur in any age group, although the prevalence is higher in individuals over 18 years.
? The table below shows the prevalence of diabetes in Brazil, according to age and sex, according to the latest study from VIGITEL, 2011 ?, informs Camila.
2. Diabetes Is Not A Serious Disease
Myth. Camila points out that diabetes is a serious disease because it increases the risk of disease (complications of chronic hyperglycemia) in important body organs such as eyes, kidneys, blood vessels and nerves. "These diseases can be prevented if the patient has good glycemic control."
3. Diabetes has no cure
Truth. Camila points out that there is no cure for diabetes yet. However, there are studies being conducted that in the future may lead to the discovery of a cure for diabetes. For type 1, stem cell therapy is being studied in newly diagnosed patients. For type 2, studies with stomach reduction surgery have shown apparent good results, even in patients who are not overweight, he says.
4. Type 1 diabetes is more severe than type 2
Myth. Both types of diabetes should be managed to establish good glycemic control to avoid complications of the disease. In type 1 diabetes, the patient must necessarily use insulin which leads people to believe that it is a more serious form of the disease. Insulin treatment may be necessary in any type of diabetes and does not necessarily indicate the severity of the disease, says Camila.
5. Diabetes is caused by excessive sugar consumption.
Myth. Camila explains that it is not correct to state this. The two most common forms of diabetes are not caused by excessive sugar consumption.
Type 2 diabetes is multifactorial, ie several causes are associated with increased risk of developing it. The main ones are: overweight, age, physical inactivity and family history ?, explains Camila. "Type 1 diabetes is most often an autoimmune disease, which is a flaw in our defense mechanism, leading to the disease regardless of the food we eat."
"Sugar is associated with diabetes control and not cause," says the endocrinologist.
6. A person who is overweight will develop type 2 diabetes.
Myth. This is not a rule, so it is not correct to say that every person who is overweight will eventually develop type 2 diabetes. Overweight, in fact, is a risk factor for the development of this disease, but there are other factors. such as family history, etc.
Type 2 diabetes is a disease that can be accelerated or aggravated by lifestyle and obesity. Is it caused by the pancreas's inability to produce enough insulin to reduce the amount of sugar in the bloodstream ?, explains Ana Luisa Vilela, a nutritionist at Slim Form Clinic.
7. Diabetic People Should Always Buy Diet Foods
Myth. Camila explains that dietary foods do not contain added sugar, but have natural sugars from the ingredients that are carbohydrates. "Carbohydrates are the main nutrients responsible for increasing blood glucose (glucose, or blood sugar)," he says.
• Of carbohydrates, refined sugar has the greatest impact because it is absorbed very quickly and efficiently. Therefore, a diet food is better than a non-diet exclusively when comparing the amount of sugar added?
But far better than choosing between non-diet and diet, is to choose based on the nutritional characteristics of the foods. For example, it is better to eat a fruit than a diet chocolate. Diet food helps to diversify diabetic diets and reduce refined sugar intake, but for type 2 diabetics in general, the primary care regarding diet should be to maintain a proper calorie diet. Is excess weight far more detrimental to diabetes control than the characteristics of the food consumed ?, Camila adds.
8. The diabetic person can eat fruits at ease
Myth. Alex Leite, coordinator of the Endocrinology team of the Itaim and Morumbi units of the São Luiz Hospital, points out that fruit consumption needs to be controlled. This is because they contain a sugar called fructose, which can contribute to glycemic control in the body. The general recommendation is that the person eats a maximum of four fruits a day, of different types and at different times.
9. People with diabetes should not overdo bread, pasta and other carbohydrates.
Truth. "Diabetics cannot consume foods that contain large amounts of sugar (which can fall into the bloodstream) and white carbohydrates do so, so they should not be consumed in excess," says Ana Luisa.
10. Those with diabetes can never eat candy again
Myth. Camila explains that people with diabetes can eat candy in a planned and not overdone way. "Ultimately, a diabetic patient's candy intake should be similar to that of anyone seeking health and quality of life," he says.
• Sweets are usually quite calorie and nutritionally poor. Finding balance is the answer to many of the questions regarding the diet of diabetics ?, highlights the endocrinologist.
11. Diabetes can make a person slim down
Truth. Diabetes can make you lose weight when not well controlled. If glucose is high in the blood, it means that the body is unable to use it as a source of energy. And if the body lacks energy, we lose weight. It is as if the patient is fasting. He feeds, but can not harness the energy of food ?, explains Camila.
12. Diabetics May Consume Socially Alcoholic Beverages
Truth. Alcohol is not completely prohibited, but its consumption calls for caution. “Like sweets, alcoholic beverages should be consumed in a planned manner and not exaggerated,” says Camila.
• Each alcoholic drink offers a different amount of carbohydrates (sugars) and this should be taken into account. In addition, it is important to remember that alcohol increases the risk of hypoglycemia in diabetics, especially those who use insulin or drugs that stimulate insulin production, explains the endocrinologist.
• The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that men's daily alcohol consumption should not exceed 2 servings of alcohol (30mL). which equals 2 glasses (125mL each) of red wine? and for women, up to 1 serving (15mL) ?, adds Camila.
13. Diabetics can consume honey and sugarcane juice at will
Myth. Milk explains that consumption of these foods is not advisable as they are high in sugar and can disrupt the control of blood glucose.
14. Cinnamon Controls Diabetes
Myth. Some foods, such as cinnamon, are believed to have benefits in glycemic control. But the subject generates controversy.In addition, it is noteworthy: such foods in no way replace the need for diet, medication use and periodic medical monitoring.
"There is no scientific evidence that cinnamon can help control diabetes," says Camila.
15. Every diabetic needs insulin application
Myth. Ana Luisa points out that it depends on the case. "But everyone needs to take care of food and medical monitoring," he says.
16. Insulin application is very painful
Myth. Camila explains that insulin should be applied with a syringe and needle or injection pen and needle into subcutaneous tissue, which is the fat under the skin. "In general, it is not painful, but the pain threshold is very variable," he says.
• When there is pain, it is possible that the method and / or place of application is wrong or the needle is not cut properly. It is common to feel pain when it is inadvertently applied to the muscle or when the needle is reused ?, highlights endocrinologist Camila.
17. Insulin application causes chemical dependence
Myth. Milk points out that insulin does not cause dependence. "When the patient needs this hormone often it is because it really is deficient in insulin production."
18. People with diabetes need treatment
Truth. "Non-drug treatment requires lifestyle change: dietary adequacy, physical activity, and weight loss for type 2 diabetics," Camila explains.
• For type 1 diabetics it is necessary to adapt the use of insulin to each patient's eating plan. Drug treatment has a wide range of options and should be guided on a case-by-case basis, adds the endocrinologist.
19. Those with diabetes cannot exercise
Myth. "Physical activity helps to control diabetes and should be done, yes," says Ana Luisa.
20. Diabetics are more prone to other contagious diseases such as colds
Truth. Camila explains that diabetics are more susceptible to infections when they are poorly controlled. • Poor glycemic control decreases our ability to defend against pathogenic microorganisms. Even with proper control, excess blood sugar and urine favor the proliferation of some bacteria and fungi that can cause disease ?, says.
21. Stress Can Aggravate Diabetes
Truth. Stress is responsible for the production of hormones called counterregulators, that is, that oppose the effect of insulin. So it is theoretically possible that it can trigger diabetes or worsen the glycemic control of a person with diabetes ?, highlights Camila.
22. It is possible to prevent diabetes
Truth. Camila explains that type 2 diabetes can often be avoided by adopting a diet that is adequate for caloric and nutritional needs and by engaging in physical activity regularly.
"Sometimes, even following these guidelines, people can develop diabetes because they have a strong genetic predisposition," explains the endocrinologist.
Now you have probably answered your main questions about diabetes. It is worth remembering that this is a serious disease that must be controlled, and that it can be avoided with simple attitudes, such as adopting a balanced diet and exercising.
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