Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions each year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it’s not able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can aid in preventing or reducing the progression of the disease. It’s also important to be aware of symptoms to know what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health issue that affects the way your body transforms food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops making enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is known as glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it properly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels get too high over time. This can lead to problems with the eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart as well as the 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 until it eventually leads to the total absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes every day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar levels within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it is utilized to generate energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes must treat their condition by eating a balanced diet and exercise. They may also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
It is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However, women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to develop complications, like heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One early warning sign of diabetes in women is a rise in thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your blood and your kidneys are not able to filter it out.
Men with diabetes Men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. Your body will then try to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently experience thirst and require to drink large amounts of fluids. This can be up to 4 liters a day.
Men can be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is an important part of managing your condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, including fruits vegetables, whole grains as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may also consider limiting the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks typically contain lots of sugar which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t controlled by one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will assist you to pick the most appropriate medication for your requirements and preferences.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.