Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people each year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it’s not able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help to prevent or delay the disease. It’s also crucial to be aware of the symptoms so you can tell whether something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting) that alters how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or are unable to use it correctly.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It can also cause damage to your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The destruction can take place over months or even years, eventually resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
Insulin is a requirement for people with type 1 diabetes all day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar levels within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it is utilized to generate energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition with a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also have to take medications to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races and ethnicities and ages as well as genders. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a greater chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your bloodstream, and your kidneys cannot eliminate it.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is usually because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body will then attempt to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and they need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men may also lose weight because their bodies utilize muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels are high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar, reduce your weight and risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole food items, including fruits, whole grains, vegetables, beans and low-fat dairy. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may also be able to reduce the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks usually contain high levels of sugar and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are often combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as diet and physical activity, to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar is not being managed well with one medication, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to choose the most appropriate medicine for your requirements and preferences.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablets and injections.