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There are many issues regarding diabetes that all of us should know. Most of which are helpful on general terms and in common circumstances. However, differentiating fact from fiction is important for taking precaution against diabetes.
First of all, let us take a look at the basic things regarding diabetes. There are three types of diabetes; type 1, type 2 and gestational.

Type 1 diabetes is also known as 'juvenile diabetes' by which a person's pancreas does not produce insulin. Insulin is a type of hormone vital for the control of our body's sugar level in our blood. There are no methods which this disease can be prevented as it is not caused by overeating of sugar. Therefore cutting down your sugar intake is not the answer as it is your pancreas that is not able to produce insulin.

Type 1 diabetes patients can take in insulin to control the sugar levels in their blood. Though it cannot be cured, this condition is certainly containable which makes it none life threatening if insulin is taken as prescribed.

Type 2 diabetes on the other hand could result from the patient's body not being able to use the insulin properly. This condition is containable and preventable; by not overeating sugary and sweet foods.

Gestational diabetes is a diabetic condition that occurs during pregnancy. The causes of this diabetes type are unknown but it could be explained by the hormonal changes in the woman body during pregnancy.

Fiction: 'I'm just having mild diabetes.'

Fact: There's no mild or serious cases of diabetes, it's the case of you have it or you don't and if you do, it's definitely serious.

Fiction: 'Insulin is the antidote to diabetes. I can stop eating them once I feel fine.'

Fact: Insulin does not cure diabetes. It helps maintain and manage your sugar levels in the blood. Stopping your insulin prescription could immediately increase your sugar levels.

Fiction: 'People diagnosed with diabetes cannot eat sugars or carbohydrate.'

Fact: People diagnosed with diabetes still need sugar to provide them energy. However they must take their insulin prescription regularly as recommended to ensure that the sugar will be absorbed by the body and do not stay in the blood.

Fiction: 'I don't feel sick or I feel absolutely fine so I'm not diabetic.'

Fact: There is no affirmative way other than a blood test to tell that whether a person is diabetic because diabetes sometimes produces no symptoms and one-third of diabetic patients do not know they have the condition.

Now that you've heard of these facts, kindly read on to see the vitamins and minerals that can help prevent diabetes. They (1) enhance insulin sensitivity and synthesis or (2) maintain a stable balance of sugar and carbohydrate metabolism:

(1) Zinc, Chromium, Vitamin B8 (Biotin),
(2) Vanadium, Manganese, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

Sources of these vitamins and minerals can be found in:

Zinc ' Oysters, red meat, poultry.
Chromium ' Broccoli, grape juice, garlic.
Vitamin B8 (Biotin) ' Eggs, sardines, soy beans, beef liver.
Vanadium ' Black Pepper, corn, olives, olive oil.
Manganese ' Macadamia nuts, almonds, cashew nuts, hazel nuts, brown rice.
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) ' Soy beans, potatoes, eggs, fish, meat, poultry.