Diabetes: Answers of Frequently Asked Questions

Diabetes: Answers of Frequently Asked Questions

1. I am afraid of injections (insulin). Once started on insulin, will it be for all life long? Can I take pills instead of insulin?

If we are talking about type 1 diabetes, it is not treated with pills. Failure of insulin administration will lead to progression of disease and ultimately death.

As for type 2 diabetes, insulin administration at time of onset of the disease   is often temporary.

2. Is losing weight and limiting calories are important in type 2 diabetes, or excluding sugar and sweet from diet is enough?

With type 2 diabetes, losing weight   makes it much easier to control the level of sugar in the blood, so the dietary recommendations are more stringent than those with type 1 diabetes.

3. Can I eat honey, because it is not composed of glucose and fructose?

Actually honey contains glucose and fructose in equal proportions and increases blood glucose levels as well as sugar.

4. Is it true that diabetic can only eat black bread? What if I only have white bread?

White and black bread’s effect on blood glucose are alike. But there are high-caloriesin white bread, by baking. Therefore, it is less preferred than black. If you prefer white bread, then reduce the amount of the bread.

5. Can I cure type 2 diabetes if I stop eating carbs and/or lose a lot of weight?

No, there is no cure of diabetes. Not eating carbohydrate or severely restricting it is nearly impossible for any length of time. It’s also not healthy, because you won’t get essential nutrients and losing a lot of weight can put the condition into remission.

6. Why fruits are preferred over other kind of premade food, fruit also contain carbs, aren’t they bad too?

Carbohydrates found in fruits are organic and are attached with some amount of proteins. Diabetics needs to eat some amount of food with carbohydrates because they are essential for energy production.

7. I am diabetic, does it mean that I can’t drink alcohol?

Alcohol can’t be changed to glucose by body but you should constantly check your blood sugar levels because it can decrease blood sugar levels. That why always eat something before or during alcohol consumption. 

8. Does Cinnamon Lower Blood Sugar?

Regular ground cinnamon and cinnamon sticks have been used in studies on this question. The amount suggested was 1/2 teaspoon per day. However, the research on cinnamon is inconclusive, and the use of cinnamon has not become part of common clinical practice.

9. Does the surgery in the treatment of diabetes type 2?

90% of cases of type 2 diabetes associated with obesity.  Studies show that 83% of patients after gastric bypass stopped taking diabetes medications. After 10 1/3 years after surgery patient continues to maintain good control of blood sugar levels without medication.

10. What is hemoglobin A1c?

Hemoglobin A1c - an analysis which shows the average blood sugar levels of previous 2-3 month. People with diabetes should regularly do the analysis to see whether their blood sugar levels remained in within normal indexes.The American Association of diabetologists recommends to maintain the level of hemoglobin A1c level below 7%.

Blood for analysis for hemoglobin A1c can be assembled at home or put in the same clinic.