by ERIKA ALDRICH
Diabetes is becoming an increasing problem in the United States with over 100 million individuals living with diabetes or prediabetes. However, despite the prevalence of the disease, there are still many common misconceptions surrounding diabetes. Test your knowledge of diabetes and increase your chances at prevention by taking our quiz!
True or False? Diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar.
Which of the following is NOT a form of diabetes?
Type 1 Diabetes- previously known as juvenile diabetes, and is an autoimmune disorder
Type 2 Diabetes- caused by varying degrees of insulin resistance
Type 3 Diabetes- senior-onset diabetes
Gestational Diabetes- diabetes experienced by pregnant women
Fill-In-The-Blank: Type 1 diabetes is caused by _________ and type 2 diabetes is caused by __________.
A. High sugar consumption/ low fiber consumption
B. Genetics and unknown factors/ Genetics and lifestyle factors
C. Not enough exercise/ Contracting the disease from a carrier
D. Pollutants in the environment/ Complications from other health conditions
E. None of the Above
One common misconception about diabetes is that being overweight is the only risk factor for developing diabetes. Which of the following are additional risk factors? (Choose all that apply)
how much physical activity one gets
family history
ethnicity
age
All of the Above
True or False? Drinking sugary drinks like soda, fruit drinks, energy drinks, sweet tea, and sports drinks is linked to type 2 diabetes.
Fill-In-The-Blank: Another common misconception is that diabetes is not a serious disease. In a year, diabetes causes more deaths than ___________ and ____________ combined.
Influenza/ Allergies
Breast cancer/ AIDS
Melanoma/ Gastroenteritis
Stomach cancer/ Aneurysm
None of the Above
Treatment options for diabetes includes which of the following? (Choose all that apply)
Insulin
Medication
Changes in diet and exercise
Surgery
All of the Above
Which of the following is NOT a health concern associated with diabetes?
It nearly doubles the chances of having a heart attack
It damages your veins and circulatory system
Kidney damage
Baldness
Damage to the nervous system
Resources: The American Diabetes Association: Diabetes.org
ANSWERS:
False. Diabetes is not caused by consuming sugar, though the constant overconsumption of sugar is a risk factor. Diabetes is characterized by your body’s inability to convert sugar in the body, leading to dangerous levels of sugar building up in the bloodstream.
C. Type III Diabetes- senior-onset diabetes. There is no such thing as Type 3 diabetes or senior-onset diabetes. The other forms of diabetes—Types 1 and 2 and gestational diabetes—are actual forms of diabetes.
B. Genetics and unknown factors/ Genetics and lifestyle factors. Diabetes is not caused by sugar alone, but rather a combination of factors.
E. All of the Above. The risk factors for type II diabetes include weight, how much physical activity one gets, family history, ethnicity, and age. Many individuals suffering from type II diabetes are not overweight or only moderately overweight.
True. Drinking sugary drinks does not CAUSE diabetes, but, according to the American Diabetes Association, research has shown that drinking sugary drinks is linked to type 2 diabetes.
B. Breast cancer/ AIDS. Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the U.S., with nearly 80,000 deaths attributed to the disease, and over 250,000 deaths listing diabetes as an underlying or contributing cause of death.
A., B., and C. Treatments for diabetes include insulin, medication, and changes in diet and exercise; diabetes cannot be treated with surgery.
D. Baldness. All the rest are health complications associated with diabetes.
