Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people each year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help to prevent or delay the onset of the disease. It is important to understand the symptoms so you can identify if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting) that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin or their bodies are unable to use it effectively.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can cause issues with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also harm the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, meaning that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. The destruction can happen over months or even years, eventually resulting in a complete lack of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics require insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it is used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to regulate their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
It is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of diabetes in women is a rise in thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in your blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to filter it out in a proper manner.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is usually because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body then attempts to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently have a thirsty feeling and must drink large amounts of fluids, up to four liters a day.
Men can be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels stay elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help control blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods like fruits, whole grains, vegetables beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might be advised to limit your consumption of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks are typically high in sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in normal levels. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes, such as exercising and diet to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well managed on one medication, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor can help you select the right medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the chance of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.