Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does produce effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help to prevent or delay the disease. It is also essential to be aware of the signs, so you can identify if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin or can’t use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or cannot use it effectively.
The blood sugar levels rise as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also damage the coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. The destruction can happen over months or even years, eventually resulting in an absence of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their food, insulin and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t utilize insulin in the way it should. 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 for energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers must treat their condition with a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medications to control their blood glucose levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. However, women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a higher 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 rise in thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your bloodstream and kidneys can’t remove it.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is typically because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This causes elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and need to drink a lot of fluids.
The men may also lose weight since their bodies make use of muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels remain elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole foods 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 be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might need to limit your consumption of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks are often packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes like exercise and diet to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being adequately controlled with one medicine, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor can help you choose the best medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and they come in both tablets and injections.