Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help to prevent or delay the disease. It is also crucial to understand the symptoms so you can tell if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin or aren’t able to use it effectively.
The blood sugar levels rise with time in both forms of diabetes. This can lead to problems with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It may also damage your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. The process of destruction can last for months or even years before eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activities to maintain their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which can then be utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races, ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. However women are at a greater risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to develop complications, including heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One early warning sign of women with diabetes is a rise in thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the bloodstream and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to filter it out in a proper manner.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a condition where cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This is typically because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men can also shed weight as their bodies use muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
You should include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products as well as legumes, beans and beans are excellent choices. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might be advised to limit your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks are often packed with sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are usually combined with lifestyle changes, such as physical activity and diet, to 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 medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and come in both tablets and injections.