Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions each year. It is caused because the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or cannot make use of the insulin it has effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and can be prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is also important to be aware of the signs, to determine whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas stops making enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. People with type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to make it work properly.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems 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 an auto-immune disease which means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The destruction can take place over months or even for years before resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
It is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One of the early signs of women suffering from diabetes is a rise in thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the bloodstream and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to get rid of it correctly.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is typically because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body will then try to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men may be able to experience weight loss too as their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy instead of fat. This is because their blood sugar levels stay elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar, reduce your weight and the risk of developing heart disease.
It is important to 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 great choices. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may also want to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks often have high levels of sugar in them that can cause 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 medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, like physical activity and diet, to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled by one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will work with you to choose the most appropriate medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.