Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It happens when the body fails to produce enough insulin or cannot utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It’s also important to be aware of the symptoms to determine the signs of a problem and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to properly use it.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or their bodies are unable to use it effectively.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels get too high in time. This can lead to problems with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. 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 pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. This process can take months or even years before eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which can then be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also need to take medications to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are more at risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and vision loss.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for women suffering from diabetes. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your blood and kidneys can’t remove it.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition where cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is typically because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men may also lose weight because their bodies make use of muscles 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
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, control your weight, and reduce heart disease risk factors.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods like fruits vegetables, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may need to limit your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes, such as eating habits and exercise to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t managed by one medication another medicine could be added. Your doctor will assist you to pick the best medication for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and come in both tablets and injections.