Did you know that 29.1 million Americans were diagnosed with diabetes in 2012? Approximately 1.25 million children and adults have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. (American Diabetes Association, 2015) More and more Americans are being diagnosed with diabetes, and it is more common than ever. But what is truly scary are the “myths” about diabetes that are creating an image that contains false information and stereotypes. “If you eat too much sugar you get diabetes”, “If you are diabetic you can't eat sweets”, “You can get diabetes from someone” and “Fruit is healthy, eat as much as you want! (American Diabetes Association, 2015) While these myths may be false, this is what most Americans believe. What is diabetes? Diabetes is a metabolic disease that, if left untreated, can become a serious disease. Diabetes is also called diabetes mellitus, it affects how the body relegates blood glucose (also called blood sugar) in the body. Glucose is the main source of energy for your body. When you have diabetes, your body is unable to eliminate glucose using insulin. Insulin is a hormone in the body produced by the pancreas. Insulin turns carbohydrates in food into sugar (or glucose) and can be used as energy or stored for another time. In a non-diabetic, the pancreas regulates insulin in the body. After eating a meal, your blood sugar will rise and the beta cells in your pancreas will release insulin into your bloodstream. Allow insulin to absorb sugar from the bloodstream. In a diabetic person, the beta cells of the pancreas are destroyed or damaged and are unable to eliminate sugar, causing a high glucose level, also called hyperglycemia. There is such a low blood sugar level, called hypoglycemia... middle of paper... you can't catch diabetes from a friend. It is not a contagious disease. It has to do with genetics and your personal health. There are so many myths about diabetes that many people don't know the truth. There are also many support groups out there to talk about diabetes. Many people don't have a good support system and this makes living with diabetes difficult. Diabetes can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. If you are diagnosed at an early age, you need to think about the compilations you may experience later in life if diabetes is not treated now. The things you do now will help you later. In conclusion, I hope my article provides at least one person with more information about diabetes and not myths. Diabetes is a very challenging disease that, if left untreated, can be life-threatening. The best thing a person can do if diagnosed