Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that is affecting millions of people each year. It happens because the body doesn’t make enough insulin or utilize the insulin it produces effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It’s important to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell if something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or isn’t able to properly use it.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it work properly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems with your feet, eyes and kidneys. It could also harm your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, meaning that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This destruction can happen over several years or even decades and eventually lead to the total absence of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activities to keep their blood sugar levels within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes the body does not make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also need to take medications to control their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are more susceptible than males.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your bloodstream and kidneys can’t eliminate it.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is typically because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This results in elevated blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty and require to drink lots of fluids.
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 level remains high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a crucial aspect of managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce heart disease risk factors.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole food items, including fruits vegetables, whole grains as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may want to limit your intake of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks are typically packed with sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are usually combined with changes in lifestyle, like physical activity and diet, to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t managed by one medication then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will work with you to select the best medicine for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and come in both tablets and injections.