Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people each year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it’s not able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and can be avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is also essential to understand the symptoms so you can determine whether you are suffering from a condition 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 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, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to use it properly.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also cause damage to 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 cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. The destruction can take place over many years or months and eventually lead to a total lack of insulin.
Insulin is required by those who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar levels within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it is used as energy.
People with type 2 diabetes must treat their condition by consuming a balanced diet and regular exercise. They might also need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. However women are at a higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, including heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the first signs of women suffering from diabetes is a rise in thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your blood and kidneys are unable to remove it.
Diabetes in men Men: Symptoms
In diabetes the cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty and require to drink a lot of fluids.
The men may also lose weight since their bodies use muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help control blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products and legumes are great choices. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may need to limit your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks are often packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes such as eating habits and exercise to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well managed by one medication then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will guide you to determine the most appropriate medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications like glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss, and they come in both tablet and injection forms.