Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions each year. It is caused because the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or cannot use the insulin that it has effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can all help in preventing or delaying the onset of the disease. It’s also crucial to be aware of the symptoms to be able to tell what’s wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it in a proper way.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels are excessively high over time. This can lead to problems in the feet, eyes and kidneys. It can also harm the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The destruction can happen over several months or even years before resulting in a complete lack of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics must take insulin each day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activities to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used as energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes with a healthy diet and exercise. They may also have to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races and ethnicities age, genders, and ages. Women are more susceptible than males.
Women with diabetes are more prone to develop complications, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your bloodstream and kidneys are unable to eliminate it.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a condition where cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is usually because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood sugar levels. The body tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and they need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men can be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is because their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors for heart diseases.
You should include whole food items in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are a good choice. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might need to limit your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks often have high levels of sugar in them and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in a normal range. These drugs are often paired with changes in lifestyle, like eating habits and physical activity to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed on one medication then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will help you determine the most appropriate medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease 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 come in both tablet and injection forms.