Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that is affecting millions of people each year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and can be prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medications. It is also important to recognize the signs so you can identify if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to use it correctly.
The blood sugar levels rise as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can lead to issues with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The destruction can take place over many years or months and eventually lead to an inability to produce insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They also may need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects all races as well as ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. However women are at a higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys are not able to filter it out.
The signs of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is usually because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body will then try to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes typically have a thirsty feeling and must drink large amounts of fluids. It can be as much as 4 liters a day.
The men may also shed weight as their bodies rely on muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels stay elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help control blood sugar levels control weight and reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods like fruits, whole grains, vegetables as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may also want to limit the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks are often high in sugar and can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are often combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as eating habits and physical activity to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar is not well controlled with one medication, you might need to take a different medication. Your doctor will assist you to select the best medicine for your specific 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 and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of developing complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.