Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition which affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can aid in preventing or reducing the onset of the disease. It is also essential to be aware of the symptoms to determine if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting), which alters how your body converts food into energy. It happens when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or fails to use it properly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to use it correctly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can cause issues in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also harm the arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. This destruction can occur over many months or even years until it leads to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar in the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and eat a balanced diet. They also may need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects all races as well as ethnic groups age, genders, and ages. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are more likely to develop complications, including heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of women suffering from diabetes is increased thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood and your kidneys aren’t able to get rid of it effectively.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This is usually because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar, control your weight, and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may consider limiting your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks are often high in sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These medications are often combined with changes in lifestyle, like exercise and diet to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being controlled by one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor will help you select the right medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss, and they come in both tablets and injections.