Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It happens because the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or cannot utilize the insulin it produces effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the progression of the disease. It is important to understand the symptoms so you can tell whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body transforms food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or fails to use it correctly.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems with your feet, eyes, and kidneys. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. This destruction can occur over months or even for years before resulting in an absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their food, insulin and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. However women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to develop complications, like heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for diabetes in women. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the bloodstream and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to remove it in a proper manner.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas produces insufficient 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.
People with diabetes frequently are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids, up to 4 liters a day.
The men may also lose weight as their bodies use muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, reduce your weight and risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods, including fruits vegetables, whole grains as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might also want to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks often have high levels of sugar and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes such as exercising and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t controlled by one medicine then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will guide you to determine the most appropriate medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and they come in both tablets and injections.