Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious 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 have effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and can be avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It’s important to be aware of symptoms to determine whether something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or is unable to properly use it.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies are unable to use it effectively.
The blood sugar levels increase as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems with your feet, eyes and kidneys. It can also cause damage to your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. This process can take months or even years before eventually resulting in a total lack of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust the insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar 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 remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and eat a healthy diet. They also may need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for women suffering from diabetes. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your bloodstream, and your kidneys cannot remove it.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
In diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This results in high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People who have diabetes often have a thirsty feeling and must drink large amounts of fluids, up to 4 liters a day.
Men may also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle for energy, instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels are high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
Include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products as well as legumes, beans and beans are good choices. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may be advised to limit your consumption of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain a lot of sugar that can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are usually combined with lifestyle changes, like exercise and diet to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels are not being managed well with one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor can help you select the right medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the chance of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss and come in both tablet and injection forms.