Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when the body is unable to make enough insulin or use the insulin that it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and can be treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medications. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms so you can tell the signs of a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that alters the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or fails to use it properly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels become too high in time. This can cause issues with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also cause damage to the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. This destruction can happen over many years or months and eventually lead to the total absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes the body does not make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it can be utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races and ethnic groups, ages, and genders. However women are at a higher risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the first signs of women suffering from diabetes is a rise in thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your bloodstream and your kidneys are not able to remove it.
Men with diabetes Men: Symptoms
In diabetes the cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This results in elevated blood sugar levels. The body tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
People who have diabetes often have a thirsty feeling and must drink large quantities of fluids, up to 4 liters a day.
Men may also experience weight loss because their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
Include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products such as beans, legumes, and beans are great choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may be advised to limit your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain high levels of sugar in them and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These drugs are often paired with lifestyle changes, like physical activity and diet, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well managed on one medication it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will assist you select the right medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, provide cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They also help with weight loss and come in both tablets and injections.