Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness which affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can aid in preventing or reducing the disease. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to know what’s wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting) that alters the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or isn’t able to use it correctly.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or their bodies don’t use it properly.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems with your feet, eyes, and kidneys. It may also cause damage to the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease, meaning that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. This destruction can occur over months or even for years until it leads to a complete lack of insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people with type 1 diabetes every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of exercise to maintain their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also need to take medications to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races and ethnic groups, ages, and genders. Women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a greater chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women suffering from diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in your blood and your kidneys aren’t able to remove it properly.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
In diabetes it is when cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is usually because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This leads to high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and they have to drink lots of fluids.
Men can also shed weight as their bodies utilize muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might want to limit your intake of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain high levels of sugar which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being managed well with one medication, you might require a second medication. Your doctor can help you determine the most appropriate medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss, and are available in tablets and injections.