Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness which affects millions of people every year. It occurs when the body fails to produce enough insulin or cannot utilize the insulin it has effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help to prevent or delay the onset of the disease. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to determine if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or fails to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to use it properly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause issues with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. This destruction can happen over months or years, eventually leading to an inability to produce insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which is then used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also need to take medication to control their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races and ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to develop complications, such as heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the first signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your blood and kidneys can’t remove it.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition where cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is typically because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood sugar levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty and require to drink lots of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is because their blood sugar levels are high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight, and lower risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, such as fruits whole grains, vegetables, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may also be able to reduce the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks typically contain high levels of sugar in them which can result in elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically combined with changes in lifestyle, like diet and physical activity, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being controlled by one medicine, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor can help you determine the most appropriate medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, offer cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.