Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that is affecting 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.
The good news is that it is curable and can be prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It is also essential to be aware of the signs, to determine whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or isn’t able to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or aren’t able to use it effectively.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause issues in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. It could also harm 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 cells that produce insulin and destroys them. This process can take months or even years and eventually lead to an inability to produce insulin.
Insulin is required by those who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body does not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also need to take medications to control their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races and ethnicities age, genders, and ages. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for diabetes in women. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to eliminate it effectively.
The signs of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is usually due to the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body attempts to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and they need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men may be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle to make energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage your weight, and lower the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may be advised to limit your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks are typically packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes such as exercising and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t controlled on one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will work with you to determine the most appropriate medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of developing complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.