Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition 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.
Diet, exercise and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the onset of the disease. It is important to recognize the signs so you can identify whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting), which alters the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin, or fails to use 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 aren’t able to make enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It may also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder which means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. The destruction can happen over several months or even years and eventually lead to the absence of insulin completely.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes every day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activities to keep their blood sugar in the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. However, women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to suffer from complications, such as heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the bloodstream and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to get rid of it properly.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This leads to high blood sugar levels. The body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and need to drink lots of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle for energy, instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels are high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, such as fruits, whole grains, vegetables as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might consider limiting your consumption of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks are typically packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in the normal range. These medications are often combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as diet and physical activity, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being controlled by one medication, you might need to take a different medication. Your doctor will work with you to select the best medication to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss, and are available in tablet and injection forms.