Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, or fails to make use of the insulin it produces effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and can be treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medication. It’s also important to be aware of symptoms to know the signs of a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin or their bodies cannot use it properly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels become too high in time. This can lead to issues with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It may also damage your brain and heart arteries.
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. The destruction can happen over many months or even years until it leads to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes all day. They also must monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it is used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also need to take medications to control their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
It is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. 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 first signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your blood and kidneys are unable to eliminate it.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is usually due to the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes frequently are thirsty and have to drink large quantities of fluids, up to four liters a day.
Men can also lose weight because their bodies make use of muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help manage blood sugar levels control weight and reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
Include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products such as beans, legumes, and beans are excellent choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might also consider limiting the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks typically contain lots of sugar which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may recommend diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within normal levels. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes like eating habits and exercise to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being controlled by one medicine, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will work with you to select the best medication for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They also help with weight loss and come in both tablet and injection forms.