Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people every year. It is caused 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 treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medication. It’s also important to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell what’s wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or fails to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies are unable to use it correctly.
The blood sugar levels increase as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can cause issues in the feet, eyes and kidneys. It can also damage the coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The destruction can happen over months or even for years, eventually resulting in an absence of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activities to keep their blood sugar in an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t 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 is used to create energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition through a healthy diet and exercise. They may also have to take medication to regulate their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are more at risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience complications, like heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for women suffering from diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your bloodstream and kidneys can’t remove it.
The signs of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is usually due to the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This causes elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids. It can be as much as four liters a day.
Men may also experience weight loss because their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is because blood sugar levels stay elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, such as fruits whole grains, vegetables beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might also be able to reduce the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks typically contain a lot of sugar and can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes, such as eating habits and exercise to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being controlled by one medication, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor can help you pick the best medication for your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the chance of developing complications. They also help with weight loss, and they come in both tablet and injection forms.