Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition which affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can aid in preventing or reducing the development of the disease. It is also essential to be aware of the signs, so you can tell whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting) that alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies are unable to use it in a proper way.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels can become too high in time. This can cause problems in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. It could also harm your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. The process of destruction can last for months or years, eventually leading to an inability to produce insulin.
Insulin is required by those who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body may not utilize insulin in the way it should. 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 to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also have to take medication to regulate their blood glucose levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of women suffering from diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the bloodstream and your kidneys aren’t equipped to get rid of it in a proper manner.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This usually happens because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This leads to elevated blood sugar levels. The body tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty and require to drink plenty of fluids.
Men may also lose weight because their bodies make use of muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help regulate blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
Include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are a good choice. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might also want to limit the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks are usually packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
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 in lifestyle, like exercise and diet to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being controlled by one medicine, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will assist you to determine the best medicine for your requirements and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.