Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when the body fails to produce enough insulin or use the insulin that it has effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and can be avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It is important to be aware of the signs, so you can determine whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting) that impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or fails to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it in a proper way.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels become too high in time. This can cause problems with your feet, eyes and kidneys. It can also cause damage to your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The process of destruction can last for months or even years before eventually resulting in an inability to produce insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activity levels to keep their blood sugar levels within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes the body does not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also have to take medication to regulate their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnic groups age, genders, and ages. However women are at a higher risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood, and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to filter it out in a proper manner.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically due to the fact that 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 excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large quantities of fluids, up to four liters a day.
The men may also lose weight as their bodies make use of muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels are high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar, reduce your weight and heart disease risk factors.
You should include whole food items in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products as well as legumes, beans and beans are great choices. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might want to limit your intake of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain a lot of sugar in them, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes 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 manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being controlled by one medication, you might need to take a different medication. Your doctor will assist you to choose the most appropriate medication for your requirements and preferences.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the risk of developing complications. They also help with weight loss and come in both tablets and injections.