10 Common Myths About Diabetes, and the Facts

Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing long-term conditions in India. In our clinic we regularly meet people whose diagnosis or treatment was delayed by something they had heard from a friend, a relative or a forwarded message. Knowing the facts helps you act early and avoid complications.

Diabetes and obesity: myth vs fact

Myth 1: "no one in my family has diabetes, so i cannot get it."

Fact: Family history raises the risk, but it is only one factor. Age, extra weight around the waist, inactivity, an unhealthy diet, stress, poor sleep and the "Asian Indian phenotype" (more abdominal and liver fat, less muscle) all contribute. Get your blood sugar checked from age 30, or earlier if you have risk factors.

Myth 2: "i have no symptoms, so i don't need a test."

Fact: Many people with type 2 diabetes feel completely well for years. A simple blood test (fasting sugar or HbA1c) can find diabetes long before symptoms or complications appear.

Myth 3: "i avoid sweets and i walk daily, so i don't need medicines."

Fact: Food and activity are the foundation of treatment. But type 2 diabetes involves both insulin resistance and a gradual fall in the body's own insulin, so many people also need medicines to reach their targets. Needing them is not a failure.

Myth 4: "diabetes means i am seriously ill."

Fact: Diabetes is a long-term condition that can be managed well. With good control of sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol, the risk of complications falls considerably.

Myth 5: "my sugar is normal now, so i can stop my medicines."

Fact: Normal readings usually mean the treatment is working. Stopping on your own often lets sugar rise again. Any change should be made by your doctor after reviewing your results.

Myth 6: "diabetes medicines damage the kidneys."

Fact: Uncontrolled diabetes is a leading cause of kidney damage. Medicines are chosen with your kidney function in mind, several of them protect the kidneys and the heart, and your kidney tests are checked regularly so treatment can be adjusted.

Myth 7: "insulin is the last stage of diabetes."

Fact: Insulin is life-saving in type 1 diabetes and is often needed at some point in type 2 diabetes, for example at diagnosis with very high readings, during illness, surgery or pregnancy. Starting insulin when it is needed is a step towards better control.

Myth 8: "i can stop my blood pressure and cholesterol medicines once sugar is controlled."

Fact: Diabetes care means looking after sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol together. Controlling all three lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.

Myth 9: "i should stop my medicines when i am fasting or travelling."

Fact: Treatment should be adjusted, not stopped. Talk to your doctor at least two weeks before a planned fast or a long trip, and check your sugar more often during it.

Myth 10: "diabetes will spoil my child's marriage or career."

Fact: People with well-controlled diabetes study, work in almost every profession, marry and have healthy families.

Take-home messages

• Get tested regularly if you are at risk, even if you feel well.
• Eat a balanced diet, stay active and aim for a healthy waist size.
• Take medicines exactly as prescribed, and never stop them on your own.
• Check your sugar as advised and keep your follow-up visits.
• Control blood pressure and cholesterol as well as sugar.
• Trust your doctor over social media.

Frequently asked questions

At what age should I get my sugar tested?

Which test is best for checking diabetes?

Can type 2 diabetes go away?