Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help to prevent or delay the onset of the disease. It is also important to understand the symptoms so you can tell whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas stops making enough insulin or can’t use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to use it properly.
The blood sugar levels rise with time in both forms of diabetes. This can lead to problems with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also cause damage to your brain and heart arteries.
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 take place over months or years until it eventually leads to a total lack of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes 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 in a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
People with type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition by eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. They might also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races, ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. 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 vision loss.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your bloodstream and kidneys are unable to eliminate it.
Diabetes in men Men: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This usually happens because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and need to drink lots of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, such as fruits, whole grains, vegetables, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might want to limit your intake of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks are usually high in sugar which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not well controlled with one medication, you might need to take a different medication. Your doctor will assist you select the right medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the chance of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.