Did you know 37.3 million Americans are living with diabetes? As November kicks off, so does National Diabetes Awareness Month. So I’m here to remind you of the facts and that there is no right way to be a person with diabetes!
As a Registered Dietitian & Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist (CDCES), I typically see clients with Type II Diabetes. It’s my goal to provide respectful and inclusive care in a non-judgmental space to help improve their treatment outcomes.
Often, I see women who have diabetes and struggle with eating disorders, shame, and guilt around their food choices and body. The common misconceptions I hear are in the vein of “sugar causes diabetes,” “weight causes diabetes,” “it’s my fault for my diabetes diagnosis,” “I can’t eat this because I have diabetes.”
These are all myths!!
The truth is… stress, genetics, and race are all risk factors for diabetes. So why aren’t we talking about that? Maybe that’s a conversation for another day 👀
Today, I’m busting 3 common diabetes myths that constantly float around on the internet!
3 Common Diabetes Myths
- The myth: You will become a person with Type II Diabetes if you eat white carbs.
The truth: Eating white carbs does not guarantee you will get Type II Diabetes. The truth is avoiding carbs can lead to disordered eating due to fear of certain foods. You can still eat carbs! - The myth: You will become a person with diabetes if you eat sugar.
The truth: You can’t eat a chocolate bar and give yourself diabetes. The truth is sugar and carbs are not the only things to look at when diagnosing and determining the cause of diabetes! - The myth: You need to obsess over the numbers (such as calories, weight, blood sugar, carbohydrate count, etc.).
The truth: Instilling the notion to obsess over the numbers in patients leads to unattainable perfectionism and everyone trying to have the best numbers which then leads to an endless cycle of the blame game and eating disorders! Trying to do everything the “right way” may quickly lead to you becoming burnt out. There is no right way to be the “best diabetic”.
These busted myths just go to show how wrong the internet can be and that it really is possible to thrive with diabetes without shame, without a focus on weight, and in a way that embraces your culture and cultural foods.
Thriving With Diabetes
Recently, I announced a new small group coaching program for BIPOC adults looking to learn about diabetes management called Thriving With Diabetes. In this program, members will learn about diabetes from a weight inclusive perspective, in a way that embraces your culture and cultural foods, that diabetes goes beyond what you are eating, and that it is possible to live with diabetes without shame.
The 6-week program is led by me (Esther Tambe, Registered Dietitian and Diabetes Educator) and covers Blood Sugar Fundamentals, What Impacts Blood Glucose, How To Plan Enjoyable, Nutritious Meals, Navigating Social Eating, Getting Rid of Shame, and Diabetes Management Burnout. Details on the next intake will be revealed soon, so sign-up here if you’re interested! (payment plans are available, and FSA / HSA is accepted!).