Diabetes is a serious disease that is affecting more and more people worldwide each year. The prevalence of diabetes has done little to improve awareness of the condition, and many myths about diabetes are still considered factual by members of the general population.

Type 1 diabetes is often understood less than Type 2, but numerous Type 2 myths persist, some of them creating a false, unfavorable view of people with diabetes, and others obscuring the possible onset of the disease.

#1. You Have to Be Overweight

It is true that the greater your weight, the greater your risk for developing diabetes. That does not mean, however, that you must be overweight in order to develop diabetes. Type 2 can develop in people who fall within a normal BMI, primarily due to diet, exercise, and genetic factors.

Weight is absolutely a factor in diabetes onset, but is not the only mechanism behind metabolic disorders. Although losing weight lessens your risk, it does not eliminate it entirely.

#2. Diet Outweighs Genetics

There is no single determinant of diabetes. Eating a diet high in sugar and fats is ill-advised and dangerous, but does not guarantee a diabetes diagnosis. Eating poorly and having a family history, though not a guarantee, makes the possibility far more likely than if diet alone is the primary cause of concern.

By the same token, genetics can influence drastically enough that even a mediocre diet can grow incredibly problematic. Ultimately, diabetes develops due to a collective number of causes, rather than a single issue.

#3. If You Have Diabetes, You’ll Know

Diabetes is a dangerous condition partly because it often goes unnoticed for long periods of time. Many people, even after being diagnosed, are unable to feel the changes in their body when their blood sugar is high or low. Once you are aware of your condition, an inability to detect blood sugar changes is not as problematic, but if you do not know to check your blood sugar consistently throughout the day, drastic changes can be dangerous.

Diabetes myths can be as dangerous as the condition itself; persistent beliefs surrounding both onset and treatment can keep people from getting the help they need. Routine checkups can spot diabetes before it reaches dangerous levels, as can seeing a physician if you notice any of the common symptoms of diabetes, including frequent urination, excessive fatigue, and constant thirst.