Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people each year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help to prevent or delay the onset of the disease. It’s also crucial to be aware of the symptoms so you can tell whether something is wrong 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 isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or their bodies don’t use it properly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels become excessively high over time. This can cause problems with your feet, eyes and kidneys. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. The process of destruction can last for several years or even decades and eventually lead to a total lack of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics need to take insulin every day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body may not utilize insulin in the way it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used to create energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition by consuming a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medication to regulate their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. However women are at a greater risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to develop complications, like heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood and your kidneys aren’t able to filter it out correctly.
Diabetes in men Men: Symptoms
In diabetes it is when cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This results in high blood sugar levels. The body then attempts to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
People who have diabetes often have a thirsty feeling and must drink large amounts of fluids. This can be up to 4 liters a day.
Men can also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged 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 and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Your diet should consist of plenty 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 need to limit your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks usually contain a lot of sugar in them, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within normal levels. These drugs are often paired with lifestyle changes, such as physical activity and diet, to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t managed by one medication it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will assist you pick the best medication for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications, like 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, as well as reducing the risk of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss and come in both tablets and injections.