Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and can be avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It is important to recognize the signs so you can identify whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting) that alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or cannot use it correctly.
The blood sugar levels increase with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause problems with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. The process of destruction can last for several years or even decades until it eventually leads to an inability to produce insulin.
Type 1 diabetics must take insulin each day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used to create energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes must treat their condition with a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also have to take medications to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. However, women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, including heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood, and the kidneys aren’t able filter it out in a proper manner.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This usually happens because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This leads to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and they need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men also may lose weight because their bodies utilize muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help control blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole food items, including fruits whole grains, vegetables as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may also want to limit the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks are usually packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes such as eating habits and exercise to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed by one medication it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will work with you to pick the most appropriate medication for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.