Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Americans with prediabetes don’t realize they can prevent diabetes altogether.

There are many myths surrounding diabetes and prediabetes. Among them are the following:

Myth: "Too much sugar causes diabetes."

Fact: "Fat, not sugar causes diabetes.

Myth: "Vegetable oil is best for a low-fat diet."

Fact: "Olive oil helps with diabetes prevention.

Myth: "Coffee is bad for your health."

Fact: "Coffee prevents development of diabetes.

Diabetes can lead to a domino effect in the decline of your health!

There are many complications to diabetes. Among them are the following:

Heart disease
Heart disease and stroke account for 65% of deaths in people with diabetes. Diabetics die from heart disease 2 to 4 times more than people without diabetes.

Stroke
The risk for stroke is 2 to 4 times higher among people with diabetes.

High blood pressure
About 73% of diabetics have blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/80 or take prescription medications for hypertension.

Blindness
Diabetes causes 12,000 to 24,000 new cases of blindness each year in the US.

Kidney disease

Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, accounting for 44% of new cases in 2005. Many diabetics with kidney failure live on chronic dialysis or need a kidney transplant.

Nervous Damage
About 60% to 70% of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nerve damage. This results in limited feeling or pain in the feet or hands, slowed digestion of food, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other nerve problems.

Amputations
More than 60% of foot or leg amputations occur in people with diabetes. The rate of amputation for people with diabetes is 10 times higher than for people without diabetes.

Gum disease
Gum disease is more common in people with diabetes. Among young adults, those with diabetes have about twice the risk of those without diabetes.

Complications of pregnancy
Poorly controlled diabetes before conception and during the first trimester of pregnancy can cause major birth defects in 5% to 10% of pregnancies and spontaneous abortions in 15% to 20% of pregnancies.

Sexual dysfunction
Diabetes significantly increases the risk for sexual dysfunction in both men and women.

Prediabetics many have many questions such as

What is the difference between good fats and bad fats?

What are the best meats to consume?

Which foods can actually prevent diabetes?

Are all carbohydrates bad?

The answers to these questions and more can information on this topic can be found at http://www.treatprediabetes.com

Treatprediabetes.com contains information for prediabetics who want to find out how to reverse their prediabetes. Many times pre diabetes can be cured or reversed by following the simple steps and foods to reverse prediabetes that can be found at http://www.treatprediabetes.com

Author's Bio: 

Dr. Scharf is a Board Certified Periodontist who places dental implants in Babylon, Suffolk County, Long Island New York. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Implant Dentistry at New York University College of Dentistry in New York.