Mens Health Blog. Medical Blog

Does sugar cause diabetes? No. There is absolute consensus that sugar does not cause diabetes. Type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes) is an autoimmune health problem triggered by unknown environmental factors such as viruses. Type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent diabetes) is strongly inherited but lifestyle factors such as lack of exercise and overweight increase the risk of developing it. Because the dietary treatment of diabetes in the past involved strict avoidance of sugar, many people wrongly believed that sugar was in some way implicated as a cause of the disease. While sugar is off the hook, high G.I. foods are not. Studies from Harvard indicate that high G.I. diets increase the risk of developing both diabetes and heart disease.

Are rice and pasta equal as carbohydrates? In the general sense that they are both high carbohydrate, low-fat foods with valuable amounts of micronutrients, they are equal. Pasta has a higher protein content than rice but most people eat more than enough protein anyway. Pasta and rice are not equal in terms of the G.I. factors. The G.I. factor of all types of pasta is low, usually between 40 and 50. Rice, however, can have a high G.I. (80 to 90) or a low G.I. (50 to 55) depending on the variety and, in particular, its amylose content. In Australia there are all types of rice available and it is not always possible to identify the variety on the label. Calrose rice has a high G.I. and Basmati rice has a low G.I.

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Do I have to take any special precautions for my feet?

As a child or young person with diabetes, you should not have special problems with your feet. Older people with diabetes may develop circulation problems or loss of nerve sensation, but you should be able to prevent this happening.

You should of course take good care of your body like anyone else, and this includes your feet. Here are some suggestions which really apply to anybody, whether or not they have diabetes.

1. Keep your feet clean: germs can cause skin infections.

2. Wear well-fitting shoes. Thongs are good in summer. Sneakers and runners should be of reasonably good quality to lessen the stresses and strains of sport on the knees and ankles.

3. Toe-nails should be cut straight across to prevent in-growing toe-nails.

4. Treat tinea, warts and skin infections promptly if they develop.

5. See a podiatrist if there are any foot care problems.

6. See your doctor if there is an in-growing toe-nail that becomes infected or any other skin or foot disorder.

I am a teenager. I keep getting thrush which is irritating and sometimes sore. Why?

Thrush in the genital region – the vagina and around the labia – is quite common in adolescent girls with diabetes. High levels of glucose in the genital secretion seem to favour the growth of this yeast infection. There are a number of creams that help clear it, but it will recur if the levels of glucose remain high.

You should take care to get diabetes under really good control and at the same time use the treatment for thrush that your doctor will prescribe. The yeast also sometimes lives in the bowel and can be spread from around the anus and forwards to the genital area. It may be necessary to clear the bowel infection with tablets as well. Discuss this with your doctor.

Boys can get thrush on the penis sometimes for the same reason.

Why do we have to be especially careful about cuts, scratches and minor infections?

Everybody, whether they have diabetes or not, should be sensible about cuts and scratches and skin infections and should treat them with cleansing, perhaps an antiseptic and a light cover, such as a ‘band-aid’. If wounds and sores are allowed to fester they may upset the diabetic state, causing glucose to mount up in the blood. This may delay the healing of the cut. Children whose diabetes is in good control should heal just as quickly as other children without diabetes, but high levels of glucose in the blood may encourage infection.

Is my acne due to diabetes?

No. Many teenagers get acne, and diabetes has nothing whatsoever to do with it. If your acne does not clear up with simple measures, discuss it with your doctor. Even if it cannot be cured there is a lot than can be done to improve it and stop it spoiling your appearance.

Can I have ordinary medicines and tablets like other people when 1 get ill? Is it all right for me to have aspirin or cough mixtures or penicillin and other things if I need them?

Yes. There is no reason why you should not have simple remedies like aspirin if necessary and, of course, if you need more important drugs for an illness your doctor will prescribe them safely, knowing that you have diabetes. Some household remedies such as cough mixtures are syrupy and contain a lot of sugar, and it is better to ask your pharmacist or doctor about suitable remedies of this kind.

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