Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when the body fails to produce enough insulin, or fails to use the insulin that it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the disease. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms to know if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas stops making enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin, or their bodies are unable to use it correctly.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get too high over time. This can cause issues with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart as well as the 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 years before resulting in an absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it is used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and eat a healthy diet. They might also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. However women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of women with diabetes is a rise in thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the bloodstream and the kidneys aren’t able get rid of it properly.
The signs of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes it is when cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is typically because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and need to drink lots of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss because their bodies break down muscle to make energy, instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels stay high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight, and lower heart disease risk factors.
You should include whole food items in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products, beans, and legumes are excellent choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might also consider limiting the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks typically contain high levels of sugar that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes like exercise and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t managed on one medication then a second medication could be added. Your doctor can help you select the right medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer medications like glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, offer cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.