Is it true that you can get diabetes from a very strong scare?

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when the body is unable to regulate all the glucose in the bloodstream, and a large portion of the population currently suffers from it.

The National Health and Nutrition Survey in Mexico (Ensanut), conducted in 2021, indicates that at least 12.4 million people in the country suffer from this disease, which translates to 10.2% of the population.

Having diabetes can have devastating effects on the body, including heart disease, eye problems, kidney damage, hearing problems, dementia, and more.

In Mexico, a widespread popular belief holds that diabetes can be triggered by a severe fright. The idea is that when faced with a state of extreme anxiety, blood glucose levels rise, which can cause illness. But what do specialists say about this?

You might be interested in: Profeco reveals the best sanitary pads on the market. Can a severe scare give you diabetes?

José Manuel Huerta Hentschel, a specialist in gynecology and obstetrics, stated that the belief that a scare can cause diabetes is completely false.

The doctor emphasized that diabetes is multifactorial, meaning anyone can suffer from it. In fact, the Mayo Clinic website clarifies that the exact cause of most types of diabetes is unknown, although, according to Huerta Hentschel, there are some factors that can increase the risk of developing it, such as being obese or overweight, doing little or no exercise, and a poor diet.

For these reasons, the specialist suggested that people engage in regular physical activity, in addition to maintaining a proper diet.

"Risk factors are like traffic lights: the more orange or red they are, the higher the likelihood of contracting the disease. What you need to do is turn the warning lights green," he explained.

Read also: These are the owners who must change their license plates in May.

* * * Stay up to date with the news, join our WhatsApp channel * * *

MB