Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that is affecting millions of people each year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it’s not able to use the insulin it does have 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 know if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting), which alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas stops making enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t use it properly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels are too high over time. This can cause issues in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease which means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. This process can last for many months or even years, eventually resulting in an absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes every day. They also must monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their food, insulin and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be used as energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes with a healthy diet and exercise. They might also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
It is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are at higher risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher likelihood of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of women with diabetes is a higher thirst and increased 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 filter it out properly.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
In diabetes the cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is typically because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body attempts to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
People who have diabetes often have a thirsty feeling and must drink large amounts of fluids, as much as four liters per day.
Men may also lose weight as their bodies make use of muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar levels, reduce your weight and the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may need to limit your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks are usually packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in the normal range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes such as exercising and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled by one medicine it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will guide you to determine the most appropriate medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer medications like glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and they come in both tablets and injections.