Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease which affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medication. It’s also important to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell the signs of a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting), which affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or is unable to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it in a proper way.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels become too high in time. This can cause issues with your feet, eyes, and kidneys. It may also cause damage to the coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, meaning that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This destruction can happen over months or years until it eventually leads to a total lack of insulin.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes all day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar levels within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers must treat their condition by eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medications to control their blood glucose levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
It is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to suffer from complications, including heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of women suffering from diabetes is a rise in thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t able to remove it correctly.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes is a condition where cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is typically because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This causes elevated blood sugar levels. Your body will then attempt to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
People who have diabetes often feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids. It can be as much as four liters daily.
Men may also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help regulate blood sugar levels control weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole food items, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might need to limit your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks usually contain lots of sugar in them, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These drugs are often paired with changes in lifestyle, like eating habits and physical activity to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled by one medicine then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will assist you determine the most appropriate medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and they come in both tablets and injections.