Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions each year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medications. It is important to understand the symptoms to determine whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t utilize it correctly.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels can become too high over time. This can cause problems in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It could also harm the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder and means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The destruction can take place over months or even years before eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by those who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used to create energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes with a healthy diet and exercise. They also may need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
It is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased urine, a condition 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.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is usually because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body will then try to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
People who have diabetes often are thirsty and have to drink large quantities of fluids, up to four liters a day.
Men may also lose weight since their bodies make use of muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods, such as fruits whole grains, vegetables as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might also want to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks often have high levels of sugar in them that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in the normal range. These medications are usually combined with changes in lifestyle, like diet and physical activity, to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed on one medication, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will guide you to determine the most appropriate medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.