Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people 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 can be cured and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell whether something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which alters the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or can’t use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it correctly.
The blood sugar levels rise with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause issues with your feet, eyes and kidneys. It may also damage 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 the pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. This process can take months or years, eventually leading to a total lack of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their the insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and eat a healthy diet. They also may need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races and ethnicities age, genders, and ages. However, women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your bloodstream, and your kidneys cannot remove it.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
Diabetes is a condition where cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is usually due to the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This results in elevated blood sugar levels. Your body will then try to lower the levels by flushing 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 per day.
Men may also lose weight because their bodies rely on muscles for energy instead of fat. This is because blood sugar levels remain high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a key element in managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, control your weight, and reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole food items, including fruits vegetables, whole grains beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might also want to limit the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks typically contain high levels of sugar in them that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These drugs are often paired with lifestyle changes, such as eating habits and physical activity to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed by one medication it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will assist you to determine the most appropriate medicine for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, offer 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.