Although 1 in 10 Americans have diabetes, the education surrounding it isn’t the best. So in honor of National Diabetes Month, associate editor (and type 1 diabetic) Chloe gathered questions she gets asked a lot and hit up writer, diabetic, and diabetes advocate Christine Fallabel, MPH (she/her) to dispel some common myths.

True or False: Eating too much sugar causes diabetes.
This is absolutely not true. (I wrote about this here.) Eating lots of sugar can lead to insulin resistance that may cause prediabetes over time, and if not treated could eventually lead to type 2 diabetes. But directly eating sugar does not cause either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Even more shocking: Sugar can be medicine for people with diabetes! It’s used to treat hypoglycemia all the time and we need it for when we take too much insulin, exercise too much, or eat too little. When people see me eating sugar on purpose they’re usually surprised, but, hey, whatever works.

True or False: Type 1 diabetes is a “more serious” form of diabetes compared to type 2 diabetes.
All forms of diabetes are serious, dangerous, and potentially deadly. That being said, type 1 diabetes requires insulin all the time (as our pancreases do not produce any insulin at all and require exogenous insulin injections), whereas most people with type 2 diabetes do not require insulin, they are just more insulin resistant than people without diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes are more prone to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), severe low blood sugar levels, and may be more susceptible to diabetes complications like blindness, amputations, kidney failure, stroke, heart disease, and premature death. Still, both forms of diabetes are serious.

True or False: Diabetes can be reversed with a healthy diet and exercise.
You cannot reverse type 1 diabetes. It’s an autoimmune disease with no cure. Type 2 diabetes, however, may be reversible for some people, with strict diet and exercise, but you will always fall into the “prediabetes” category, so you’ll always have to watch what you eat and how you exercise. However, if you have type 2 diabetes and are on insulin, with exercise and diet, you may be able to get off of insulin or other diabetes medications like Metformin.

When diabetics have really high or really low blood sugars, it means they aren’t taking care of themselves, right?
Wrong! Having diabetes means that you’re constantly walking a tightrope of high and low blood sugar levels. Think of it like you’re trying to drive under the speed limit, but you’re blindfolded. Kind of hard, right? We’re literally acting as human pancreases, in addition to all of the other roles we play in life. If someone you know is experiencing high and/or low blood sugars, know that it’s normal to experience both highs and lows on a daily basis.

True or False: Diabetes doesn’t affect someone’s mental health.
Diabetes affects every aspect of someone’s life, and as a chronic disease with no cure, it has tremendous effects on one’s mental health. It’s expensive, it’s relentless, it’s invisible (so people don’t always understand when you need special accommodations), and people don’t always know what you’re going through. Diabetes isn’t just a simple, “Take a pill a day and you’re set” kind of disease. It dictates everything you eat and every move you make. It can be a leading cause of anxiety, depression, and diabetes burnout. If you’re struggling, I suggest you talk with your doctor ASAP.

Is diabetes different for women?
Diabetes is so complex for every single person, but I think the societal pressure that falls on women hits women with diabetes even harder. There is so much pressure coming from everywhere to be 100% at everything all at once: in our jobs, relationships, and ability to have children and families, all while managing a chronic illness 24/7. It can be a lot to juggle.