We are staring at a global diabetes epidemic. And the powers that be, such as the American Diabetes Association, Diabetes Australia, Diabetes UK and similar, form policies which drive treatment and all these associations assert that diabetes is a chronic progressive disease, eventually requiring increasing doses of medication to keep blood sugar levels in check.

But nothing could be further from the truth.

So let’s examine a few myths associated with the condition which even we as doctors have been ‘fed’ and determines how we dispense advice.

1. DIABETES OCCURS BECAUSE THE PANCREAS DO NOT PRODUCE ENOUGH INSULIN

Type II diabetes, which is the common variety seen in adults, is due to insulin RESISTANCE, not underproduction. I have explained this in the post: https://drlilykiswani.com/insulin-resistance/ .

This means that we are not helpless because the body is not making insulin. It means that we have CONTROL because we can reverse the Insulin Resistance.

2. DIABETES IS A CHRONIC IRREVERSIBLE DISEASE

No, diabetes is a CONDITION that has occured due to various causes such as stress, unhealthy lifestyle, drug reactions and can be REVERSED by identifying and reversing the underlying causes. This can be done by an Integrative Medicine Specialist.

3. YOU NEED CARBOHYDRATES FOR ENERGY AND FOR YOUR BRAIN

I know, this is what I believed and also advised my patients. This was because medical college curriculum almost ignores nutrition and that encourages us to ignore it, too.

The truth is, the body and the brain both function a lot more efficiently on ketones, which are fat breakdown products. Here are some studies: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23852511, and https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201104/your-brain-ketones.

So ditch the carbs. Fat is our friend. Here’s a guide on how to eat to become healthy and to stay healthy: https://drlilykiswani.com/what-should-i-eat/.

4. IF YOUR BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS ARE ‘IN CONTROL’ ON DRUGS, YOU ARE SAFE.

Sorry, but this is not so. You are still at risk of developing complications. This is because the root cause has not been addressed and the damage to organs continues to occur. Here’s how to correlate blood sugar levels and risk of complications: https://drlilykiswani.com/prediabetes-are-we-at-risk/ .

Therefore the only real option is to reverse your illness and return to true health.

5. IF YOU ARE ‘PREDIABETIC’, YOU ARE SAFE.

Sorry, but this is not true as well. In fact the term ‘prediabetic’ confers a false sense of security precluding action. The truth is that complications begin to occur at blood sugar levels defined by the estimable organisations above, as being in the prediabetic range.

So if you are told that a fasting blood sugar level of 110 is acceptable, run to find an Integrative Medicine practitioner.

Diabetes is preventable even if you have a strong family history.

Diabetes is reversible. You are NOT doomed to ill health.