Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition which affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It’s also crucial to be aware of the symptoms to determine the signs of a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t use it properly.
The blood sugar levels rise with time in both forms of diabetes. 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 which means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The destruction can take place over many months or even years, eventually resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
Insulin is required by those who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar in the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and follow a healthy diet. They might also need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater likelihood of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood and the kidneys aren’t able eliminate it correctly.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
In diabetes it is when cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
People who have diabetes often feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids. It can be as much as four liters daily.
Men can be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is because blood sugar levels are high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole food items, including fruits, whole grains, vegetables, beans and low-fat dairy. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might also consider limiting the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks often have high levels of sugar in them and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, like exercise and diet to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels are not being managed well with one medicine, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor can help you select the right medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the chance of developing complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and come in both tablet and injection forms.