Health Tip: When a Loved One Has Diabetes
When a friend or family member is diagnosed with diabetes, you may be unsure of how you can help.
The American Diabetes Association offers these suggestions:
- Learn everything you can about diabetes, including what it is and how it's treated.
- There are different types of diabetes with different treatment requirements, so it helps to learn the specifics about your loved one's condition.
- Talk to your loved one about what he or she needs from you, and what's needed to cope emotionally.
- When your loved one asks for help, follow through.
- If your loved on needs professional assistance -- with diabetes or a related issue -- help the person get it.
Health Tip: Debunking Diabetes Myths
If you've just been diagnosed with diabetes, it may be difficult to separate fact from fiction.
The American Diabetes Association debunks some popular myths about the disease:
- You can't "catch" diabetes from someone else.
- Dessert isn't off-limits forever for all diabetics. While eating too many sugary foods is a bad idea, you can have an occasional dessert, especially if you exercise and otherwise eat healthy.
- Eating too much sugar can't "cause" diabetes. The disease stems from genetic and lifestyle factors.
- Carbohydrates and starches (bread, potatoes, pasta) aren't off-limits, but healthy portion sizes are important.
- Diabetics aren't more susceptible to colds and other illnesses.
- Insulin doesn't cause hardening of the arteries or high blood pressure.
- Fruit, while healthy, can't be consumed in huge amounts, since it contains carbohydrates.
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