Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people each year. It happens when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or cannot make use of the insulin it has effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and can be treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medication. It is also essential to be aware of the signs, so you can identify whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or fails to use it properly.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to use it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems with your feet, eyes and kidneys. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The destruction can take place over months or even years and eventually lead to an inability to produce insulin.
Type 1 diabetics need to take insulin every day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used as energy.
People with type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition by eating a balanced diet and exercise. They might also need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of women with diabetes is a rise in thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your bloodstream and kidneys can’t remove it.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This is usually due to the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body attempts to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty and require to drink lots of fluids.
The men may also lose weight as their bodies use muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is because blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help control blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole food items in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products such as beans, legumes, and beans are excellent choices. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might consider limiting your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain high levels of sugar in them and can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in normal levels. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled by one medicine another medicine could be added. Your doctor will help you select the right medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.