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As a person with type 2 diabetes, I am well aware of the stereotypes and erroneous beliefs about my disease:

• I must have type 2 diabetes because I brought it upon myself eating chips 24/7 on the couch while watching TV.
• I must not diet or exercise as much as I say I do, because otherwise I would be a waif.
• I should "just" be able to give up all carbs and sweets.
• I should "just" be able to exist on four lettuce leaves a day and a cherry tomato.

Even some friends with type 1 diabetes get very insulted for being mistaken as someone with type 2 diabetes, "the one caused by poor lifestyle."

The root cause of diabetes is not yet known.  Many people are quick to say extra weight is the cause.  However, there are many more fat people in the world without diabetes than there are fat people with diabetes.  There is debate about whether excess weight precedes diabetes, or diabetes precedes gaining excess weight.  In other words, does our body somehow change into a fat-making, fat-storage machine because of something not working correctly?  There is research that seems to point that way, but the fact is we really don't know yet.

While we may not know when physiologic changes happen to cause easy weight gain and weight loss resistance, we know it does happen in the disease.  People diagnosed with diabetes may have their bodies working against them.  Hyperinsulinemia, a condition that happens in type 2 diabetes, can make it difficult to lose weight.  It might cause fat retention despite hard work and calorie restriction.  It can also feel like you took a pill that increased appetite and cravings.  This makes sense because our cells starve when their energy source (sugar) remains in the bloodstream.  Signals are sent to the brain demanding food, especially quick-fix sugar. This is the reason why someone with diabetes can still have strong cravings after eating a big meal.

So people with diabetes have to jump over bigger hurdles than people without diabetes.  It's like running a race with a 50 pound millstone around your neck and your millstone-free opponent is bragging they are faster than you.

The good news is that if you make smart lifestyle changes and have awareness of what is happening, you may be able to lessen the challenging effects and have an easier time losing weight and dieting.  The problem is that many people are just given general one-size-fits-all advice for diet and exercise and they are not aware of the current general guidelines for people with diabetes.  Read about Smart Diabetes Lifestyle Changes to help make things easier and improve your quality of life.

Learn more about how Hyperinsulinemia Can be Mistaken for Low Fitness Motivation. 

People With Type 2 Diabetes Lazy and Undisciplined? originally appeared on About.com Diabetes on Monday, January 30th, 2012 at 05:31:14.

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George from Wyoming, type 2, writes: I recently visited my doctor and she told me that I have get an immunization for hepatitis because I have diabetes.