Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that is affecting millions of people each year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it’s not able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help prevent or delay the progression of the disease. It is also important to be aware of the signs, so you can identify whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or can’t use it as effectively as it should.
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 aren’t able to utilize it correctly.
The blood sugar levels rise with time in both forms of diabetes. This can lead to problems with the eyes, feet and kidneys. It may also cause damage to the coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. The destruction can happen over months or even years before resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust food, insulin and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it is used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and follow a healthy diet. They also may need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
It is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for diabetes in women. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to filter it out properly.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
In diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large quantities of fluids, up to four liters daily.
Men also may lose weight because their bodies make use of muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are good choices. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might need to limit your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks are usually packed with sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes, such as eating habits and exercise to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled on one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will work with you to determine the most appropriate medication to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications like glucagon-like receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.