Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people each year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It is also important to be aware of the signs, so you can determine if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting) that alters how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or are unable to use it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can lead to issues with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also harm the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder which means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. The destruction can take place over many years or months until it eventually leads to the complete absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it is utilized to generate energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes by consuming a balanced diet and exercise. They may also have to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are more at risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater likelihood of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of women with diabetes is a rise in thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your blood and kidneys can’t eliminate it.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
In diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is typically because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes typically feel thirsty and need to drink large quantities of fluids. This can be up to four liters a day.
Men can also experience weight loss because their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a vital aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, reduce your weight and the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods, including fruits whole grains, vegetables as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might consider limiting your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks typically contain a lot of sugar in them, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes, like exercise and diet to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being adequately controlled with one medicine, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will assist you to choose the most appropriate medication for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medications like glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose inhibitors that 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.