Why do people insist that diabetes is always as a result of consuming too much sugar and being overweight?

Question

At the time I was diagnosed I was not overweight, did not consume vast amounts of sugar, sugary foods, fat or junk foods.
I ate, as I always have, and still do, a healthy, balanced diet based on wholefoods, fruit and vegetables. I have never smoked and walked at least 5 miles 6 days a week.

I have type 2, and was aged 56 when diagnosed. It is very well controlled, with none of the associated complications.

I am taking tablets and not insulin.

In response to some answers, I am not aware of any blood relatives with diabetes.
I had been going through a time of severe stress for a while and when diagnosed my then doctor thought that may have been the trigger, 'something had to give'.

When I walk I build up a good steady pace, even uphill. I used to walk to and from work, each way took about 35 to 40 mins. depending on the weather. I walk or cycle now as much as I can.

The tablets I take are metformin and rosiglitazone combined and on low dosage.

Answer 1

because people who think they know it all dont...they're all ignorant and uneducated....they dont realize that anyone can get any type of disease no matter how healthy you may be...they think oh i cant get diabetes im not overweight and i dont eat alot of sugar...WRONG...same thing kind of happend to me...im not overweight and i never ate alot of sugar but i still ended up with type 1(and yes i know theres a difference) people just assume that because you have diabetes that youre overweight or that you were overweight...and they're wrong.......sorry for my rambling!

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

I have type II diabetes. It was diagnosed about five years ago, but I think that I had it long before then.

Insulin is produced by the pancreas. If it does not produce enough, or the body does not use it properly, then you have type II diabetes. Mine is no doubt caused by too much drinking over the years. I have never eaten sweets, or cakes as I didn't like them, I seem to have a 'sour tooth'. I am about two stones overweight, and have been for years.

None of my family had diabetes on either side, including great grandparents, grandparents and so on. So I don't think it is hereditary, it is probably just unhealthy living. The BMA say that there are thousands of people who are unaware that they have type II diabetes.

My diabetes is under control with tablets and a little dieting. I still have a drink though.

Answer 4

The reason people insist this is because about 80% of Type 2 diabetics are overweight/obese, eat unhealthily, and are sedentary (don't exercise). Type 2 diabetes has become an epidemic, and we know that a main cause of this is due to our lifestyles, as genetics can't change in 50 years.

That said, about 20% of Type 2 cases are NOT related to lifestyle. This would include you. There are forms of Type 2 called MODY, which is considered a genetic form of diabetes. There are other genes that cause other forms of non-lifestyle related Type 2 diabetes. Some people get Type 2 diabetes from using certain medications, including steroids and anti-psychotics.

Also consider that you could be a LADA, or late onset Type 1. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that has nothing to do with lifestyle and cannot be prevented. Many adult cases of late onset Type 1 are misdiagnosed as Type 2, as many doctors still mistakenly believe Type 1 only happens in people under 30 (mostly children). You can have your doctor test to see if you are really Type 1 if you wish. If you need to go on insulin in the next little while (within 1.5 years or so) depsite good control, you may be a LADA. Many with LADA can go for quite awhile on oral meds, as their beta cells are destroyed very slowly.

I am sorry you have to deal with this. You are in the same boat as people with Type 1, who are constantly being lumped together with the obesity related Type 2 cases. Frustrating to say the least.

Take good care of yourself, and expect ignorance from others. Educate them, but know most will remain ignorant unless they too have to deal with diabetes on a personal level. It is also the media's fault for only representing lifestyle related Type 2. Although we need to work hard to prevent this form of diabetes, we cannot forget about the other types.

Answer 5

The Cause Of Diabetes Type 2.
Also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, adult-onset diabetes, maturity-onset diabetes, ketosis-resistant diabetes, and stable diabetes.
This is the type that affects 90% of diabetics. It is an ever expanding disease and is now thought to affect around 4% of the world population. In some countries the number of people aged 45 and over who have Type 2 diabetes is as high as 20%.
The modern trend to emphasise solely the role of obesity and inactivity in this type of diabetes has led to the belief by many non-diabetics that having this disease is your own fault, you needed to have eaten less and exercised more. This can make many a Type 2 want to scream with frustration, especially as they watch those same people devour huge quantities of forbidden foods while lolling around viewing the next sport fixture. If what they thought held true they would soon be joining you in your battle to cope with this disease, but they don't - so why not?
That is because the causes of Type 2 diabetes are not that simple. There is a complicated weave of factors that play a role.
Listed below are some of the most important:-
1. Genetics
2. Defective hormonal secretions.
3. Insulin abnormalities - insulin resistance and subsequent overproduction leading to beta cell 'wear out'.
4. Environment.
5. Increased glucose production by the liver.
6. Sedentary lifestyle.
7. Visceral obesity

Answer 6

I am writing to tell you what an incredible impact these methods had on my life! I have had type 2 diabetes for 27 years. For me, the worst part of this horrible disease is the severe pain I constantly get in my feet. The pain is so bad that I avoid standing and walking as much as possible. I've got to tell you that within the first month, my feet stopped hurting altogether and I can now walk totally pain free.

Believe it or not, I even danced at my niece's wedding last month, something I have not done in a many years. I've been following the book for six months now and my blood sugar is well within normal range. I feel great!

I recommend you use the Type 2 Diabetes Destroyer to naturally reverse your diabetes.

Answer 7

Lack of information or personal experience will cause people to insist that diabetes is always as a result of consuming too much sugar and being overweight. Similar to people suffering from gout are always thought to drink too much port and eat too much pheasant! People do not always have to be overweight or consume too much sugar to be diagnosed with Type II diabetes - it may be a condition that is hereditary.

Answer 8

A lot of people just don't have the right information. I guess they assume that diabetes is cause from sugar because diabetics can't have sugar like other people can have, but as us diabetics know that not true. I've been a diabetic since I was 3yrs old and I was never and over weight child or anything, its just a family history of having diabetes. And theirs different types of diabetes but a lot of people don't know that either but being over weight can cause diabetes also.

Answer 9

There is two types of diabetes
type 1 is insulin dependant and is usually hereditary and normally starts at an earlier age and it is where the pancreas doesn't work at all and no insulin is produced at all.
type 2 is the type normally associated with obesity and bad diet but can be controlled by healthy diet exercise and tablets. This normally occurs in people over 40 but it can happen before. The pancreas does work but not properly and is known as insulin resistant diabetes'
You can be predisposed to have diabetes especially if close family member has is

Answer 10

Type 2 Diabetes is normally down to a poor diet that is why most people presume this

My nephew has type 1 which means he is insulin dependant so no-one knows why he has it (they know why just don't know exactly why people get it)

However Steven Redgrave the Olympic Gold medallist (5times) is a type 2 Diabetic and I can't ever see him as being unhealthy (He does take insulin but that is because he works out so much that tablets or diet would not control it) but if he didn't work out he would be the same as you

Don't worry what people think as long as you know the truth

Answer 11

It is because people are ignorant of the disease.
They don't know the differences between type 1 & 2 diabetes and the implications on how diabetes happens.

It is true that overloading with sugar can cause insulin levels to go beserk, but not all cases are these way. Some people do not understand and assume that once a person is a diabetic, the person is a glut, overwt and do not exercise.