Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that is affecting millions of people each year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medications. It is important to understand the symptoms to determine whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to properly use it.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t use it properly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels can become too high in time. This can lead to issues in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It may also cause damage to the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder which means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. This destruction can occur over several months or even years, eventually resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes all day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the levels of insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
People suffering from 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.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. However women are at a higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience complications, including heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One of the first signs of women with diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your bloodstream and kidneys can’t filter it out.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
In diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is usually because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People who have diabetes often are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids, up to four liters a day.
Men may also lose weight since their bodies make use of muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help regulate blood sugar levels control weight and reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
You should include whole food items in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products and legumes are a good choice. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may also be able to reduce the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks are typically packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being adequately controlled with one medication, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will guide you to pick the best medication for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications like glucagon-like receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablet and injection forms.