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Medicine.net defines diabetes as "a metabolic disease characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels that result from defects in insulin secretion or the body's ability to use insulin."

Some diabetes myths busted

A person is at risk for diabetes when he is obese, lives an inactive lifestyle or if his family has a history of the disease.

In a feature for Pinoy MD, endocrinologist Dr. Celeste Ong-Ramos busted some myths regarding diabetes.

Myth 1: You get diabetes from consuming too much table sugar

"Hindi po totoo na sa table sugar lang natin makukuha ang diabetes. Ang risk lang naman ng matatamis na pagkain ay siyempre 'pag 'yun ay hindi natin na-utilize na source ng ating energy, nagiging fat. 'Pag naging fat po 'yan at nag-deposit sa mga katawan natin at nagkaroon tayo ng tinatawag nating central obesity o 'yung paglaki ng ating mga baywang, risk factor po 'yun for developing type 2 diabetes. So basically, risk factor lang 'yung pagkain ng sobrang matatamis at 'yun po ay naging mataba sila," she explains.

Myth 2: Diabetes is easy to treat

"In general, sinasabi namin na ang diabetesis a progressive disease. 'Pag nandiyan na 'yan, lagi na siyang nandiyan. Pero nako-control 'yan sa pamamgitan ng tamang pagkain, exercise at tamang gamot," she says.

According to the Mayo Clinic, diabetes can be managed with a healthy diet, regular exercise, medications like metformin, or insulin.

Myth 3: People with diabetes should not exercise

"Hindi po totoo na 'pag ikaw ay diabetic na ay bawal kang mag-exercise. Usually ang kailangan ng isang diabetic na patient ay 30 to 45 minutes na exercise for at least every other day. Hindi po pwedeng dalawang araw na pagitan na walang exercise. Anong klaseng exercise? 'Yun 'yung tinatawag namin na moderate intesity exerciseê'yung mga tipong nagja-jogging, bicycling, brisk walking o kaya swimming or dancing," Dr. Ong-Ramos shares.

Watch this feature from Pinoy MD to find out how a reformed soda addict manages her diabetes.

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