Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it’s not able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help to prevent or delay the onset of the disease. It is also crucial to understand the symptoms so you can identify if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to use it correctly.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or cannot use it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems in the feet, eyes and kidneys. It can also harm the coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition which means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The destruction can take place over many months or even years before resulting in an absence of insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers need to treat their diabetes by consuming a balanced diet and exercise. They also may need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are more susceptible than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the first signs of diabetes in women is a rise in thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your blood and your kidneys are not able to remove it.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then attempts to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and they have to drink lots of fluids.
Men may also lose weight since their bodies make use of muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors for heart diseases.
You should include whole food items in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are good choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might need to limit your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks usually contain plenty of sugar in them and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes like exercising and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being managed well with one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to choose the best medication for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.