Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can all help in preventing or delaying the onset of the disease. It is also important to recognize the signs so you can determine whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or is unable to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies are unable to use it in a proper way.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels get too high over time. This can cause issues with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It could also cause damage to coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. This destruction can happen over months or even years until it eventually leads to an inability to produce insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used to create 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.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women suffering from diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood and the kidneys aren’t able eliminate it correctly.
The signs of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body will then attempt to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes typically experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids. It can be as much as 4 liters a day.
Men also may shed weight as their bodies rely on muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes is a crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels control weight and reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole food items, including fruits vegetables, whole grains beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might want to limit your intake of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks are often high in sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may recommend diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in the normal range. These medications are typically combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as physical activity and diet, to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels are not being managed well with one medicine, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to select the best medicine for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose inhibitors that lower blood sugar, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They also help with weight loss and are available in tablets and injections.