Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions each year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms so you can tell if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or fails to use it properly.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it in a proper way.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels can become excessively high over time. This can cause problems with the eyes, feet, and kidneys. It may also damage your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease which means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. This destruction can happen over several years or even decades, eventually leading to the total absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes with a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also have to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races and ethnicities as well as ages and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a higher likelihood of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t equipped to remove it correctly.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This leads to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty and require to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle for energy, instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels remain high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help regulate blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole food items in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are a good choice. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may also be able to reduce the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks are often packed with sugar and can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These drugs are often paired with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels are not being managed well with one medicine, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will work with you to determine the most appropriate medicine for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and come in both tablets and injections.