Can I stop taking the medicine if my blood sugar level is stable? 5 diabetes myths busted

The National Health Administration once calculated that there are 206 new diabetes patients visiting Taiwan every day and 25 people die from diabetes, indicating that diabetes has become a serious threat to the health of the people. Professional pharmacists specializing in diabetes prevention and treatment said that most people in China lack health education knowledge about diabetes and even have many myths about it. The five most common myths have caused people to be afraid to accept treatment from doctors, causing diabetes to continue to worsen, ultimately leading to complications and even death.

The safety of diabetes medication is taken seriously, and there are five common myths that prevent patients from taking treatment.

Pharmacist Chen Shumi pointed out that among the top 10 causes of death in Taiwan, diabetes has climbed to fourth place, and at least 1.67 million people in Taiwan suffer from diabetes. Generally speaking, family heredity, obesity, excessive drinking, viral infection, etc. may all lead to the occurrence of diabetes. In addition, if blood sugar is not well controlled, patients are prone to complications related to the retina, blood vessels, nerves and kidneys. In severe cases, blindness, amputation or even death may occur.

To stay away from diabetes, obese people should lose 10 kilograms first!

Type 1 diabetes is related to multiple genetic inheritance, while type 2 diabetes is closely related to daily lifestyle in addition to genetic inheritance. According to statistics, if one of their parents or grandparents has diabetes, their children are 30% to 40% more likely to develop diabetes than the average person, putting them at high risk of developing diabetes.

Other high-risk groups include those with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, multiple ovarian cysts and gestational diabetes. These people are usually chubby, so weight loss becomes the top priority in preventing and controlling diabetes, especially for high-risk groups who are obese. It is recommended to lose 10 kilograms first to reduce the risk of complications.

Pharmacist Chen Shumi (left) reminds that if people in the high-risk group are obese, it is recommended that they lose weight first. (Photo provided by pharmacist Chen Shumi)

【Five Myths About Diabetes】

Q1: Can diabetes be cured?

A: When diabetes is diagnosed, 50% of the pancreatic beta cells have actually disappeared and cannot be restored, so it is impossible to recover. But there is no need to be discouraged. As long as blood sugar is properly controlled, diabetics can still have the same quality of life as ordinary people.

Q2: Is eating sweets frequently the main cause of diabetes?

A: Sweets are not the main cause of diabetes, and not eating sweets does not mean that you will not get diabetes. In fact, as long as the amount is properly controlled, diabetics can still eat all kinds of food normally. It should be noted that although sugar substitutes do not contain sugar, we still need to pay attention to the problem of excessive calories.

Q3: Only fat people will get diabetes?

A: Although overweight people are more likely to develop diabetes, lack of exercise is the main cause of diabetes. In addition to the amount of exercise, people with too much body fat are also a high-risk group. Whether the body fat is too high can be measured by waist circumference. Men's waist circumference should be less than 90 cm and women's waist circumference should be less than 80 cm. It is not judged by weight.

Q4: Is type 2 diabetes limited to adults?

A: People in Taiwan often believe that children only suffer from type 1 diabetes caused by problems with the immune system. However, due to the influence of Westernized diet and lack of exercise, the age of patients has gradually decreased, and has even spread to elementary school children.

Q5: Can I stop taking the medicine once my blood sugar level is stable?

A: High blood sugar can only be detected through measurement. During medication discontinuation, high blood sugar may persist without the patient realizing it. By the time symptoms appear, it is often too late to seek medical attention. For diabetic patients, the biggest threat is actually complications, such as retinal detachment, kidney disease, foot disease, etc. If they reduce or stop taking the medicine on their own, the condition will be aggravated due to blood sugar imbalance.