Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness which affects millions of people every year. It is caused because the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or make use of the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help to prevent or delay the disease. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms to be able to tell if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting), which alters the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or fails to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is known as glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also cause damage to your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. This destruction can happen over many years or months, eventually leading to the total absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar in the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which can then be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to regulate their blood glucose levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races and ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. However, women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in your blood and the kidneys aren’t able eliminate it properly.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is usually because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body will then attempt to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and they have to drink plenty of fluids.
Men may also lose weight since their bodies utilize muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
You should include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products and legumes are great choices. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may be advised to limit your consumption of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks often have a lot of sugar that can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as diet and physical activity, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being adequately controlled with one medicine, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to choose the best medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of developing complications. They also help with weight loss, and they are available in tablet and injection forms.