Fact: diabetes is the number one cause of death among South African women, according to Statistics South Africa’s latest data. The only thing overshadowing it is Covid-19, which only reflects the year in which the stat was captured – 2021. Diabetes is now responsible for more deaths in S.A. than heart disease, cancer and HIV. “We’re facing a public health crisis,” says Ingrid Singels, Marketing Manager for Pharma Dynamics’ Scientific Division. “Worldwide, diabetes affects men and women equally, but in South Africa, we see significantly more women living with diabetes than men, and they also face more severe complications. Yet, diabetes remains underdiagnosed and undertreated.” One factor contributing to the epidemic is diabetes myths, which evidence shows are especially prevalent among women, and these myths can delay diagnosis, hinder treatment, and worsen outcomes.
Added to that, women have a unique (read: more complicated) manifestation of diabetes when compared to men. According to a large literature review in 2019 in , women with diabetes experience a 13% greater risk of death from all causes, 30% greater risk of death from cardiovascular disease, and 58% greater risk of death from coronary heart disease, compared to men with diabetes. Here, we’re discussing 11 of the biggest diabetes myths with evidence.
Myth 1 – Eating Too Much Sugar Causes Diabetes
Eating too much sugar does not cause diabetes, but an unhealthy lifestyle and poor nutrition may. It’s a combination of genetics and other unknown factors that trigger the onset of Type 1 diabetes, and Type 2 diabetes is caused by genetics and lifestyle factors. The truth is that a diet high in kilojoules can cause you to become overweight, increasing your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Myth 2 – Diabetics Can’t Eat Any Sugar Or Sugary Foods
Having diabetes doesn’t mean that you have to have a sugar-free diet. In the past, diabetics have been advised to avoid sugar as much as possible, but research shows that sugars from fruit, vegetables and dairy products are an acceptable part of a healthy diet. Diabetics should be able to enjoy a wide variety of foods, including some with sugar. In fact, up to 10% of total daily energy requirements may consist of sugars like table sugar and sugar-sweetened products, without having a negative effect on blood sugar levels.
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Myth 3 – People With Diabetes Should Avoid Certain Fruits
The belief that diabetics should avoid certain fruits, like grapes and bananas, is a common misconception. You can still achieve good blood sugar control while incorporating these fruits into a balanced diet because they have a similar sugar content per portion to other fruits. Grapes and bananas are both healthy food choices for people with diabetes as they are high in fibre, low in fat and packed with vitamins and minerals. Plus, strong studies show that a higher intake of whole fruits (blueberries, grapes, apples) is linked with a lower type 2 diabetes risk, while fruit juice is linked with higher risk.
Myth 4 – Diabetics Should Eat Special Diabetic Food
Many diabetics believe that foods labelled as ‘suitable for diabetics’ are beneficial or even essential for good health, when in fact many of these products can be high in saturated fat and calories and may still raise blood sugar levels. According to Cindy Chin, company dietician and nutrition manager at Woolworths, the key to nutrition for diabetics is to include a wide variety of foods and focus on portion size and balanced meals.
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Myth 5 – Gestational Diabetes (GDM) Is Temporary, So It’s No Big Deal
This condition develops due to hormonal changes during pregnancy that create insulin resistance, not because of dietary choices. Gestational diabetes affects 3-20% of pregnant women, depending on risk factors, and while being overweight increases risk, women of all body sizes can develop the condition. The misconception that eating habits cause gestational diabetes leads to unnecessary guilt and shame among pregnant women. Having said that, GDM raises a woman’s later risk of type 2 diabetes by around eight to 10 times and increases future cardiovascular risk. Ongoing screening and prevention matter for years after pregnancy.
Myth 6 – Diabetes Among Women Is The Same As With Men
Compared with men, women with diabetes face a higher relative risk of fatal coronary heart disease and a greater risk of heart failure when coronary disease is present. Some scary stats:
- Recent data show that women with type 2 diabetes have a 27% higher stroke risk and 19% higher vascular dementia risk than men
- Women are less likely to reach improved blood sugar levels and receive less intensive care compared to men
And, women’s hormonal fluctuations play a significant role in how diabetes affects our bodies. Early menopause (before age 40) significantly increases type 2 diabetes risk compared to menopause after age 50. Cyclical hormonal changes also make diabetes control more difficult in pre-menopausal women. Knowing this, it’s important for women to take care of their health.
Myth 7 – Cinnamon (Or A ‘Natural’ Supplement) Can Replace Diabetes Meds
Short answer: it’s not a medication substitute. Explanation: studies suggest cinnamon may reduce fasting glucose or lipids, but it’s no replacement for medication.
Myth 8 – Only Obese People Get Diabetes
Excess body fat, especially around the abdomen, significantly increases the risk of type 2 diabetes by promoting insulin resistance. And while obesity plays a big role in increasing your risk for type 2 diabetes, it’s not the full picture. Having a so-called “normal” weight doesn’t exclude visceral fat (the “bad” kind around your organs), or low muscle mass, both of which can contribute to type 2 diabetes.
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Myth 9 – Insulin Is Addictive, So You Should Avoid It
Among women, there is a common fear of insulin injections and the idea that insulin is addictive or can cause blindness. According to studies, these are untrue. But more than that, introducing insulin early on has been shown to reduce diabetes-related complications. Insulin is a natural hormone made by the body and can’t cause addiction.
Myth 10 – You Can Always Tell When Your Blood Sugar Is High
Across multiple studies, this is the most common misconception. In studies, 64% of patients in Taiwan and 54% of a minority population in the U.S. believe that they can sense elevated glucose levels. The truth: high blood sugar often develops slowly without early symptoms. According to experts, this myth can prove dangerous, since it can prevent monitoring blood glucose levels properly.
