Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness which affects millions of people every year. It is caused when the body fails to produce enough insulin or utilize the insulin it produces effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medication. It’s also important to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell whether something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting) that alters the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or isn’t able to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it effectively.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels are too high in time. This can cause issues in the feet, eyes and kidneys. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease and means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. This process can take many years or months before eventually resulting in a total lack of insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activity levels to keep their blood sugar levels within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it is used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also have to take medications to control their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races and ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of women with diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your bloodstream, and your kidneys cannot remove it.
Diabetes in men Men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and they need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can also lose weight because their bodies utilize muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products, beans, and legumes are great choices. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might want to limit your intake of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks usually contain high levels of sugar and can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes like exercise and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being managed well with one medication, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will assist you to select the best medication for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.