Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions each year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It’s also important to be aware of the symptoms so you can tell what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or is unable to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to make it work properly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It may also cause damage to the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. This process can take months or even years before eventually resulting in the total absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics require insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t utilize insulin in the way it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it is utilized to generate energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes through 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 of all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One early warning sign of women suffering from diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your bloodstream, and your kidneys cannot remove it.
Diabetes in men Men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is usually because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids, up to 4 liters a day.
Men can also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products such as beans, legumes, and beans are a good choice. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks typically contain a lot of sugar in them which can result in elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within a normal range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes such as exercising and diet to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being managed well with one medication, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will work with you to pick the best medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications like glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.