Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help to prevent or delay the progression of the disease. It’s also important to be aware of symptoms so you can tell the signs of a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that alters the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or fails to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it in a proper way.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels are too high over time. This can cause problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also harm the coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. The destruction can happen over many months or even years, eventually resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
Insulin is required by those who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They must also monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body may not utilize insulin in the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers need to treat their diabetes with a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects all races as well as ethnic groups, ages, and genders. However, women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One early warning sign of women suffering from diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to filter it out in a proper manner.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
In diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids. It can be as much as four liters a day.
Men may 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 level remains high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar, reduce your weight and the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products such as beans, legumes, and beans are a good choice. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might be advised to limit your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks are typically packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in normal levels. These drugs are often paired with lifestyle changes, like physical activity and diet, to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels are not being controlled by one medication, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to select the best medication to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the chance of developing complications. They also help with weight loss, and come in both tablet and injection forms.