What to know—and what to forget—about diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a condition which, if not properly managed, can lead to serious health problems that can affect your longevity and quality of life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately one out of 10 people in the United States has diabetes, 90 to 95 percent of which have type 2 diabetes.

Sometimes blood sugar levels are too high, but not quite high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. This condition is called prediabetes, and it raises the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other serious health conditions. More than one in three people in the United States has prediabetes, though the vast majority—about 80 percent—have not yet been diagnosed.

Despite the high prevalence of type 2 diabetes, however, misconceptions about who gets it, what causes it, and effective ways to manage it persist. Here are common misconceptions about type 2 diabetes and the facts you need to help protect your health.