Diabetes mellitus is a very widespread disease today, but even then very little people have the right information on it. The reason behind the various misconceptions behind diabetes mellitus is the lack of proper knowledge on the subject. This article tries to dispel the various myths that are associated with diabetes mellitus. It seems like everywhere I travel I continue to hear the five diabetes myths. The myths are circulating from one generation to the next. Everyone seems to believe these folklores. I have decided to take all of the mystery out of these myths and give you what actually works with the new technology today.

1. All diabetes is inherited. Not everyone who gets diabetes inherits it. People tend to inherit the risk of type 2 diabetes more than type 1. You are considered at risk for developing type 2 if any first-degree relatives have diabetes.

2. If you do have diabetes, you cannot have any sugar, it must be sugar-free. This is a myth, and the truth is our bodies not only recognize sugar, but they know how to use it. For me, personally, wheat raises my blood sugar more than white sugar. If you do want a safe sugar substitute, I would recommend vegetable glycerin.

3. People with diabetes can't eat sweets or chocolate.

If eaten as part of a healthy meal plan, or combined with exercise, sweets and desserts can be eaten by people with diabetes. They are no more "off limits" to people with diabetes, than they are to people without diabetes.

4. Insulin causes impotence. Some men who have diabetes may become impotent, but not because they take insulin. Impotence or erectile dysfunction is caused by damage to nerves caused by many years of high blood glucose.

5. There are no early symptoms of diabetes.

Fact: The early symptoms of untreated diabetes mellitus are related to elevated blood sugar levels, and loss of glucose in the urine. High amounts of glucose in the urine can cause increased urine output and lead to dehydration. Dehydration causes increased thirst and water consumption. The inability to utilize glucose energy eventually leads to weight loss despite an increase in appetite. Fluctuations in blood sugars can also lead to blurring of vision early in the course of diabetes.

6.Type 1 diabetes is more serious than type 2

This myth is also widespread and its origin is historic. Before the discovery of insulin in 1922, the diagnosis of type 1 signified certain death within months. And while all people with type 1 require insulin to survive, it is possible to control type 2 without insulin. However a person may have type 2 for months or years before diagnosis, therefore serious complications, such as eye damage or kidney failure, may have already developed, making it more serious than type 1 in certain cases.

7. There are many jobs that people with diabetes can't do. False: Almost all jobs can be done by people with diabetes. In the past, some positions in the military, and occupations like airplane pilot or interstate truck driving were not available to people with diabetes. Today, many of these professions are changing those requirements.

8. Myth: I don't need to change my diabetes treatment program if my A1c count is lower than 8 percent.

Fact: The reason for any diabetes treatment plan is to get your numbers as close to normal as possible and to gain tight control of your diabetes. The closer your A1c is to normal range - less than 7 percent - the lower your chances for complications, such as nerve damage and eye disease.