Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions each year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and can be prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medications. It is also essential to recognize the signs to determine whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or fails to use it correctly.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or are unable to use it effectively.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels get too high in time. This can cause issues in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also cause damage to 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 pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. This process can take many years or months before eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They also must monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not producing 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 is utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to regulate their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races as well as ethnic groups, ages, and genders. However women are at greater risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for women suffering from diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to filter it out in a proper manner.
The signs of diabetes in men
In diabetes the cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and they need to drink lots of fluids.
Men also may lose weight because their bodies make use of muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is because blood sugar levels are high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a key element in managing your condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
It is important to 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 free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might want to limit your intake of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks often have a lot of sugar that can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes like exercise and diet to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t controlled on one medicine another medicine could be added. Your doctor will work with you to choose the best medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They also help with weight loss, and they are available in tablets and injections.