Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the development of the disease. It is also important to know the symptoms, so you can determine whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting) that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to use it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels become excessively high over time. This can lead to problems in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. It could also harm your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease which means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The process of destruction can last for months or even years until it eventually leads to the total absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics require insulin every day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes the body does not utilize insulin in the way it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used for energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes by consuming a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also have to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. However women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the first signs of women with diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys aren’t able to filter it out in a proper manner.
Men with diabetes Men: Symptoms
In diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and they need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss because their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce heart disease risk factors.
Your diet should include plenty of whole food items, including fruits, whole grains, vegetables, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might want to limit your intake of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks usually contain a lot of sugar in them that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might recommend diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in normal levels. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not well controlled with one medicine, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will assist you to choose the most appropriate medication for your needs and preferences.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.