Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It is also crucial to understand the symptoms so you can tell whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it in a proper way.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels can become too high in time. This can lead to problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It could also harm your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. The destruction can happen over months or even years and eventually lead to a complete lack of insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes the body does not make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood glucose levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
It is a chronic illness 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 develop complications, including heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
One early warning sign of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to filter it out properly.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is typically because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body will then attempt to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and need to drink lots of fluids.
The men may also lose weight because their bodies utilize muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might need to limit your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks are often packed with sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may recommend diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in a normal range. These medications are typically combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as eating habits and physical activity to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled on one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will work with you to choose the most appropriate medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.