Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions each year. It occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot make use of the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It’s important to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell what’s wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it work properly.
The blood sugar levels rise with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause problems with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It can also harm the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition which means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. This process can last for months or even for years and eventually lead to the absence of insulin completely.
Insulin is required by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar in the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your 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 to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, including heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for diabetes in women. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys are not able to filter it out.
The signs of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This usually happens because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This results in high blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and need to drink lots of fluids.
The men may also shed weight as their bodies make use of muscles for energy instead of fat. This is because their blood sugar levels are high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a key element in managing your condition. It can help control blood sugar levels control 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, beans, and legumes are a good choice. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might need to limit your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain high levels of sugar and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes such as exercising and diet to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well managed on one medication then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will guide you to determine the most appropriate medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications like glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injection forms.