Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness which affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the disease. It’s also crucial to be aware of the symptoms to be able to tell if something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting), which alters how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t utilize it correctly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels can become too high over time. This can cause issues with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It may also damage your heart arteries 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 last for months or even for years and eventually lead to an absence of insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activity levels to keep their blood sugar in the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes the body does not make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races and ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. Women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women suffering from diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your bloodstream and kidneys are unable to remove it.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This is usually due to the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This leads to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids, up to four liters a day.
Men may also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is because their blood sugar levels are high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight, and lower the risk of developing heart disease.
Include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are excellent choices. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may also need to limit the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks are typically high in sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These drugs are often paired with lifestyle changes, like diet and physical activity, to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well managed on one medication it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will assist you to choose the best medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the chance of developing complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.