Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that is affecting millions of people each year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can all help in preventing or delaying the development of the disease. It is also crucial to understand the symptoms so you can tell whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to properly use it.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or aren’t able to utilize it effectively.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels become too high over time. This can lead to issues with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It could also cause damage to arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. This process can take months or years, eventually leading to an inability to produce insulin.
Insulin is needed by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their the insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and follow a healthy diet. They also may need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of women with diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in your blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to filter it out properly.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a condition where cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This is usually because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This leads to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body will then try to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and they need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men also may lose weight since their bodies rely on muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels are high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors for heart diseases.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, including fruits vegetables, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may also want to limit the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks usually contain high levels of sugar, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in a normal range. These drugs are often paired with changes to your lifestyle, such as diet and physical activity, to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels are not well controlled with one medication, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will assist you determine the most appropriate medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.