Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot utilize the insulin it produces effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the development of the disease. It’s important to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell the signs of a problem and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting), which affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or isn’t able to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is known as glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it work properly.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels can become too high over time. This can lead to problems with the eyes, feet and kidneys. It can also cause damage to your heart arteries and 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 inside the pancreas. The destruction can take place over several years or even decades before eventually resulting in the total absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics must take insulin each day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust their the insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which is then used as energy.
People with type 2 diabetes must treat their condition by eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. However women are at a higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to develop complications, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes), and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of women suffering from diabetes is a higher thirst and increased the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys aren’t able to get rid of it properly.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes it is when cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This usually happens because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and they need to drink lots of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss because their bodies break down muscle to make energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help control blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods, including fruits whole grains, vegetables beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may consider limiting your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain high levels of sugar which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within normal levels. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes, like eating habits and physical activity to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being adequately controlled with one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to select the best medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose inhibitors that lower blood sugar, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.