Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it’s not able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the progression of the disease. It’s important to be aware of symptoms so you can tell what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels rise with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause issues with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It may also cause damage to the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The destruction can take place over months or even years, eventually resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2, your body is not producing insulin as it 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.
People with type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition with a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a higher likelihood of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and vision loss.
One of the first signs of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood, and the kidneys aren’t able filter it out properly.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In diabetes the cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is typically because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This results in high blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and they need to drink lots of fluids.
Men also may lose weight as their bodies make use of muscle for energy rather than fat. This is because their blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a key element in managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole food items, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. 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 typically contain a lot of sugar which can result in elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes like eating habits and exercise to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not well controlled with one medicine, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to pick the best medicine for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and they are available in tablet and injection forms.