Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and can be prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is also essential to know the symptoms, to determine whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. People with type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to make it in a proper way.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get too high in time. This can lead to problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. The destruction can happen over months or even for years until it leads to the absence of insulin completely.
People with type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar levels within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2, your body is not making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormonal substance that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which is then used as energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes must treat their condition by eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. They might also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
It is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience complications, like heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the bloodstream and your kidneys aren’t able to get rid of it correctly.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
In diabetes it is when cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body will then attempt to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels stay high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce heart disease risk factors.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole food items, including fruits whole grains, vegetables beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may also consider limiting the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks are typically packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, such as physical activity and diet, to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled by one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will assist you to pick the most appropriate medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the chance of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.