Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it’s not able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can aid in preventing or reducing the progression of the disease. It is also essential to know the symptoms, to determine whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting) that alters the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it properly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels become excessively high over time. This can cause problems with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also harm 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 insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. This process can take several years or even decades, eventually leading to the complete absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics need to take insulin every day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it is utilized to generate energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition by eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medication to regulate their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your bloodstream and kidneys can’t remove it.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
In diabetes, cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This usually happens because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This results in high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and need to drink lots of fluids.
Men also may lose weight as their bodies rely on muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is because blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help regulate blood sugar levels control weight and reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
You should include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products, beans, and legumes are excellent choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may want to limit your intake of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks often have plenty of sugar in them, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may suggest diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These drugs are often paired 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, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will assist you to pick the best medicine for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the chance of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.