Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that is affecting millions of people each year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It is also essential to understand the symptoms to determine whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or isn’t able to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to use it correctly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels can become excessively high over time. This can cause problems with the eyes, feet, and kidneys. It could also cause damage to coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. The process of destruction can last for several years or even decades until it eventually leads to an inability to produce insulin.
Type 1 diabetics require insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body does not make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. However women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for diabetes in women. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your bloodstream, and your kidneys cannot eliminate it.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a condition where cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is usually because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This causes elevated blood sugar levels. The body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty and require to drink lots of fluids.
Men can also lose weight since their bodies utilize muscles for energy instead of fat. This is because blood sugar levels remain high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is an important part of managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight, and lower risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might need to limit your consumption of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks are usually packed with sugar and can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in a normal range. These medications are often combined with changes in lifestyle, like exercise and diet to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled on one medicine it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will assist you to pick the most appropriate medicine for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose inhibitors that lower blood sugar levels, offer kidney and cardiovascular benefits and lower the risk of complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and come in both tablet and injection forms.