Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people each year. It is caused because the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or fails to use the insulin that it produces effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It’s also important to be aware of the symptoms to determine what’s 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 your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or cannot use it properly.
The blood sugar levels increase with time in both forms of diabetes. This can lead to problems with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It may also damage your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. The destruction can take place over months or even for years and eventually lead to a complete lack 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 the insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not make insulin as 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.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes with a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
It is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, including heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your bloodstream and kidneys are unable to filter it out.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
In diabetes the cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This leads to elevated blood sugar levels. The body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids. This can be up to four liters a day.
The men may also lose weight since their bodies make use of muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help control blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods, such as fruits whole grains, vegetables beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might want to limit your intake of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain high levels of sugar that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may suggest diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These drugs are often paired with changes to your lifestyle, such as eating habits and physical activity to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar is not well controlled with one medicine, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will help you choose the best medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.