Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot utilize the insulin it produces effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help to prevent or delay the onset of the disease. It’s also crucial to be aware of the symptoms to determine what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting), which alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to 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 kinds of diabetes. This can cause issues with your feet, eyes, and kidneys. It can also damage the coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder and means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This process can take many years or months before eventually resulting in the total absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics need to take 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 normal 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.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also need to take medication to control their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. However women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
One early warning sign of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood, and the kidneys aren’t able filter it out in a proper manner.
Diabetes in men Men: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men may also shed weight as their bodies rely on muscle for energy rather than fat. This is because blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
You should include whole foods in your diet, like 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 also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might be advised to limit your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks often have a lot of sugar, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes such as eating habits and exercise to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled on one medicine it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will work with you to pick the best medication for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss, and are available in tablets and injections.