Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is important to recognize the signs so you can determine whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin, or their bodies cannot use it effectively.
The blood sugar levels rise as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems with your feet, eyes and kidneys. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. This destruction can occur over months or even for years, eventually resulting in a complete lack of insulin.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which is then utilized to generate energy.
People with type 2 diabetes must treat their condition with a healthy diet and exercise. They may also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races as well as ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. However women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater likelihood of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for women suffering from diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your bloodstream and your kidneys are not able to eliminate it.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
In diabetes the cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This results in high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes typically experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids. This can be up to four liters daily.
Men can also experience weight loss since their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy instead of fat. This is because their blood sugar levels stay elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, such as fruits vegetables, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may consider limiting your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain high levels of sugar in them and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled on one medicine it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will assist you to determine the most appropriate medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of developing complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and they are available in tablets and injections.