Risk factors
Facts
Nutrition
Diabetes Management
100
True or False: Eating too much sugar in the form of candy, soft drinks and other sugary treats can cause diabetes.
False: Sugar does not cause diabetes but rather insufficient insulin or the body's resistance to the action of insulin causes blood sugar levels to increase above normal levels.
100
True or False: If you have type 2 diabetes, all you have to do is take a pill.
False: While there are medications that lower blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetes, eating a healthy diet, being physically active, monitoring your blood sugar daily and stress reduction are also necessary to treat the disease.
100
True or False: Type 2 Diabetics are required to eat more food that non-diabetics in order to maintain their weight.
False: Since obesity in the major cause of Type 2 diabetes, weight loss is often recommended. In fact, weight loss can help people with Type 2 diabetes control the disease and even decrease the need for medication.
100
True or False: Having diabetes makes my feet more susceptible to common infections, such as cuts, athlete’s foot and fungal toenails.
True: The body’s decreased immune response in people with diabetes can make common foot infections more prevalent. People with diabetes should check the bottom of their feet every day using a mirror.
200
True or False: With Type 2 diabetes the pancreas stops making insulin.
False: The pancreas continues to make insulin in Type 2 diabetes, but either the quantity is insufficient or the body becomes resistant to the action of insulin.
200
True or False: Type 1 diabetics require insulin shots to survive.
True: Because the pancreas in Type 1 diabetics stops making insulin completely, they must take insulin injections.
200
True or False: As you grow older and become less active, you need less calories in your diet.
True: As you grow older, you may need less calories, especially if you are less active than when you were younger. But you still need nutrients for good health. And you need more of certain nutrients, such as vitamin B12, calcium, and vitamin D.
200
True or False: As long as my feet do not hurt, I don’t need to visit a podiatrist.
False: Diabetes can lead to loss of sensation or numbness of the extremities. This means you may not feel the pain, even if it is a significant problem. Any noticeable change in the feet such as redness, swelling, sores that don’t heal or scaly skin may indicate a more serious problem.
300
True or False: Diabetes is more common among white Americans.
False: Diabetes is more common among Blacks, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, Asian Americans and American Indians.
300
True or False: Blindness is a common complication of poorly controlled diabetes.
True: Diabetic retinopathy, a disease in the retina of the eye that can cause blindness, is a complication of poorly controlled diabetes.
300
True or False: People with diabetes have to avoid sugar altogether.
False: Sugar and starches are important and the fuel of choice for your brain and nervous system. Diabetics have to monitor their portion sizes of sugar and it is healthier to stay away from refined sugars such as white bread and white rice and eat whole wheat bread and brown rice.
300
True or False: I go to the doctor regularly and do all the necessary tests and exams on time and this is all that matters.
False: Your doctor will help you with medication and medical advice, however it is up to you to self manage your diabetes with healthy eating, being physically active, taking medication as prescribed, monitoring your blood sugar daily and stress reduction.
400
True or False: Even though someone in my family has diabetes, I don’t need to worry about it.
False: Along with obesity, heredity can increase your chances of developing diabetes.
400
True or False: Loss of appetite and not wanting to drink fluids are symptoms of diabetes.
False: Feeling hungry all the time and excessive thirst are common symptoms of diabetes. Other symptoms are urinating often, numb or tingling hands or feet and wounds that won't heal.
400
True or False: People with diabetes need to eat a very special, restrictive diet.
False: The kind of healthy diet that helps prevent diabetes is the same kind of diet that helps people with diagnosed diabetes to manage their condition. Everyone can benefit using the healthy plate planner in which half the plate is vegetables, a quarter of your plate is healthy starches such as brown rice and the other quarter is your protein such as fish and chicken.
400
True or False: My eyes are just fine, I do not need to see an eye doctor.
False: Seeing an eye doctor is very important when you have diabetes. To avoid diabetic retinopathy or blindness, you should have a comprehensive eye exam every year (or more).
500
True or false:If you do not have a family history of type 2 diabetes, you probably are not at risk.
False: Family history is a prominent risk factor. But there are other important risk factors, including: physical inactivity, being overweight and a history of gestational diabetes (a type of diabetes associated with pregnancy).
500
True or False: Type 2 diabetes can be prevented through lifestyle changes.
True: Many people could vastly reduce their odds of developing type 2 diabetes through changes in lifestyle. Obese or overweight patients with Type 2 diabetes would benefit with an initial weight loss of 10 percent, and at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, such as walking or taking the stairs instead of using the elevators.
500
True or False: If I am already taking medication for my diabetes, I do not need to watch what I eat.
False: Diabetics should closely monitor the portion sizes of sugar and starches that they consume as this can help in keeping their blood glucose within a healthy range.
500
True or False: Only Type 1 Diabetics use injectable insulin.
False: While all Type 1 Diabetics are prescribed injectable insulin sometimes Type 2 Diabetics are prescribed injectable insulin as part of their diabetes management.
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