Myth: I have diabetes so I cannot eat cake
Fact: People living with Diabetes CAN eat cake! Living with Type 1 Diabetes you can eat anything and everything! Basically it’s the same guidelines as people not living with Diabetes, eating cake everyday might not be the healthiest option 😉 but eating cake when you feel like, when it’s an event, birthdays, or simply raining outside, yes please eat your cake and enjoy it to! (just don’t forget to take your doctor prescribed treatment!!)
Myth: I have Type 1 Diabetes because I ate too many candies and too much sugar, or I didn’t exercise enough
Fact: it is 2018 and we actually do not even know what is the cause of Type 1 Diabetes. Some think maybe its caused by a virus, or something in the environment or maybe a genetic predisposition, but really we do not know yet.
It has NOTHING to do with something you might have done or might not have done. We cannot prevent Type 1 Diabetes. We do not know what causes the autoimmune response for the body to attack its own pancreas.
Myth: my uncle has type 2 Diabetes but now he takes insulin so he has type 1 Diabetes
Fact: Type 2 Diabetes and Type 1 Diabetes are not the same and someone with Type 2 Diabetes who starts on insulin does NOT have Type 1 Diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes is usually treated with lifestyle modifications (food and exercise) and oral medications (pills). With time the pancreas gets tired and may need more help and insulin is introduced. The reason the pancreas makes less insulin is due to the body being resistant to the current insulin the body is producing. Type 1 Diabetes the pancreas makes no insulin because of the autoimmune response where the body makes antibodies and attacks the pancreas. The reason for taking insulin is different in both.
There is another form of type 1 Diabetes called LADA (latent autoimmune diabetes of adults) where someone may develop T1D (type 1 diabetes) later on in life and the onset is slower (that’s why sometimes confused and the person might initially be diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes, but then they test positive for the antibodies and then diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes).
Myth: My friend cured their Diabetes, therefore why can’t you?
Fact: As of right now, it is IMPOSSIBLE to cure Type 1 Diabetes. You can however reverse Type 2 Diabetes.
