There are a lot of misconceptions about diabetes—from what it is to how to treat it. Here are some of the most common, and most serious, myths about diabetes, and the facts that give you the straight information about this disease.

Myth: Insulin cures diabetes.
Fact: There is no cure for diabetes, but it is a condition that is manageable through healthy eating, physical activity and medication, which may include insulin. Your healthcare provider will work with you to develop a management plan that works best for you. It is recommended that people with diabetes work closely with their healthcare provider to monitor the progress of treatment.

Myth: If I have no family history of diabetes, I'm not at risk for developing it.
Fact: While genetics may play a role in type 2 diabetes, many people develop diabetes without ever having a family history of it. Other risk factors for type 2 diabetes include being overweight, being over age 45, developing insulin resistance, and a lack of physical activity. Race/ethnicity may also play a part. African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians and some Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have a higher risk of developing diabetes.

Myth: People with diabetes can never eat sugar.
Fact: In moderation, people with diabetes can eat almost anything they'd like. However, those with diabetes should generally limit their fats, salts and sugars, eat food made from 100% whole grain, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. It's also important to learn the correct portion size for foods to accurately measure how many servings of carbohydrates are in a meal.

Myth: I have a family history of type 2 diabetes, so I'm destined to develop it too.
Fact: Even if you have a family history of type 2 diabetes, there are things that you can do that may help prevent or delay developing diabetes. Eating a healthy diet, getting adequate exercise and losing weight if you're overweight can decrease your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Other factors, including keeping your cholesterol and blood pressure low, can also slow down the development of diabetes.

Myth: Diabetes is a disease for older people. I'm young, so I won't develop it.
Fact: Diabetes is a condition that can develop in anyone at any age. In fact, there are about 215,000 people younger than 20 years old in the U.S. who have been diagnosed with diabetes (type 1 or type 2). On the other hand, about 465,000 people between the ages of 20-44 were newly diagnosed with diabetes in 2010.

Myth: Since I don't have any symptoms, I don't have diabetes.
Fact: There are about 7 million people who have type 2 diabetes in the U.S. but are unaware of it. They either do not have any symptoms or may have symptoms that are so mild they haven't yet noticed them. It's important that your healthcare provider monitors you if you have any of the risk factors for type 2 diabetes, especially if you have a family history of the disease.