Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help prevent or delay the progression of the disease. It is also essential to understand the symptoms so you can identify whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or isn’t able to properly use it.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies cannot use it effectively.
The blood sugar levels increase as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can cause issues with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It may also damage your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. The destruction can take place over months or even for years and eventually lead to an absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar in an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body does not utilize insulin in the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which is then utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers must treat their condition by consuming a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One early warning sign of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your blood, and your kidneys cannot filter it out.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
In diabetes it is when cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is typically because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty and require to drink lots of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss because their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy, instead of fat. This is because blood sugar levels remain elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole food items, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may also be able to reduce the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks typically contain lots of sugar that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes such as exercising and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being adequately controlled with one medicine, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to determine the best medicine for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.