Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and can be prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is also essential to know the symptoms, to determine if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or is unable to properly use it.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or aren’t able to use it effectively.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels become too high over time. This can cause problems with your feet, eyes and kidneys. It may also cause damage to the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. The process of destruction can last for months or years until it eventually leads to the complete absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics require insulin every day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes the body does not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it is used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races, ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. However women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to develop complications, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your bloodstream, and your kidneys cannot remove it.
The signs of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. The body tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently 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 the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight, and lower the risk of developing heart disease.
You should include whole food items in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products such as beans, legumes, and beans are excellent choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may want to limit your intake of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks are typically high in sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, like diet and physical activity, to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled by one medicine another medicine could be added. Your doctor can help you determine the most appropriate medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar levels and provide 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 tablets and injections.