Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people every year. It occurs 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 can be treated and can be prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It is also essential to recognize the signs so you can determine if there is a problem 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 your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or fails to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it correctly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels get excessively high over time. This can cause problems with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. The destruction can take place over months or even for years before resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activity levels to keep their blood sugar in the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormonal substance that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to regulate their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects all races and ethnicities age, genders, and ages. Women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the first signs of women suffering from diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to remove it properly.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is typically because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and they need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men also may lose weight since their bodies use muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar levels control weight and reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole food items in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products, beans, and legumes are good choices. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might want to limit your intake of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks often have high levels of sugar, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes such as eating habits and exercise to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not well controlled with one medicine, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will work with you to choose the most appropriate medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and come in both tablets and injections.