How I helped my father unlearn diabetes myths

When he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, my father’s first instinct was to dismiss it.

Having spent his entire life believing diabetes was simply about avoiding sugar and that home remedies could easily cure it, he felt he had nothing to worry about.

As an educated daughter, I had to be at the frontline of making my father unlearn every myth he had about diabetes. It was a journey that wasn’t easy for either of us. But I was determined to see it through because I knew unlearning these myths would play an important role in the rest of his life – He had to spend his remaining years with facts, not myths.

Here are some of the myths I heard from my father that I had to help him unlearn:

Myth #1 – If you’re not feeling sick, there’s nothing to worry about

One of the first and strongest myths my father believed was that diabetes isn’t a big deal if you don’t have symptoms or don’t feel sick. He thought as long as he felt fine there was nothing to worry about.

What he didn’t know was that diabetes is a silent disease which doesn’t always announce its presence. And that just because you don’t have any immediate pain or discomfort doesn’t mean it’s not doing you any harm.

I had to explain that even if he felt okay, high blood sugar damages the body over time. That it would affect his heart, kidneys, nerves and eyes, and that by the time symptoms appeared it might be too late to reverse the damage. So he had to monitor his blood sugar levels regularly and schedule regular checkups with his doctor.

I showed him true stories online from people who had once dismissed their diabetes and later suffered from complications like nerve damage and kidney failure. These stories from fellow diabetics helped a lot. Within a few days he understood he needed to take his diabetes seriously.

Myth #2 – Ayurveda can cure diabetes

My father, like many elders in Indian households, had immense faith in Ayurveda. And he strongly believed that neem leaves, methi seeds, and karela juice could replace modern medicine.

This is a cultural myth, one he’d believed throughout his childhood and into adulthood – Unlearning something like that is never easy.

I respect Ayurveda and I love our culture, but I also understand its limitations. While certain remedies are believed to help manage blood sugar, they cannot cure diabetes. And without a proven track record of success, it’s important not to rely on them.

I had to make my father understand that there is no cure for diabetes, and no one has ever been cured of their diabetes by Ayurveda. I pressed him to give me an example of one person who had, and since he couldn’t, he gave in.

It took time to convince him that he could still practice Ayurveda, but only as a supplement to his prescribed medication. This compromise allowed him to feel in control while making sure he got the medical care he needed.

Myth #3 – Diet alone can help control diabetes

Another myth my father held was that diet was the only thing that could help control diabetes. He initially thought that if he just ‘ate better’, he wouldn’t need medication.

What he didn’t understand was that diabetes management has to be balanced and needs to include exercise and medication as well as a balanced diet.

I explained this challenge to his doctor, who talked to him about it and, thankfully, was able to correct him. He started to take his medication more seriously and get more physical exercise. And through trial and error, I introduced gradual changes to his diet. Instead of banning his favourite foods outright, I found ways to make them healthier. And over time, he saw that these efforts, even the small ones, made a big difference in keeping his sugar levels stable.

Final thoughts

Helping my father unlearn his diabetes myths didn’t rely solely on my high level of education and knowledge – It took patience, understanding and persistence.

I couldn’t force change on him. I had to meet him where he was.

Our relationship played an important role in helping him unlearn myths and understand the facts. And as he learned, I learned too – That change takes time and that love and consistency are the best tools for breaking stubborn habits.

Today, my father no longer sees his diabetes as a minor inconvenience or a ‘punishment’. He sees it as a condition he can manage. And that, to me, is the greatest victory and a personal life achievement. And I’m very happy for him.