Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease which affects millions of people every year. It occurs when the body is unable to produce enough insulin, or fails to make use of the insulin it has effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help prevent or delay the development of the disease. It’s also crucial to be aware of the symptoms to be able to tell whether something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to use it correctly.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it in a proper way.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels get too high in time. This can lead to issues with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also cause damage to the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. This destruction can happen over several years or even decades before eventually resulting in the total absence of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar in an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes the body does not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood glucose levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
It is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to experience complications, like heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One of the first signs of women suffering from diabetes is a rise in thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to get rid of it effectively.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is usually due to the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body will then try to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty and require to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can also shed weight as their bodies utilize muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
You should include whole food items in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products such as beans, legumes, and beans are good choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might be advised to limit your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks are usually high in sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically combined with changes in lifestyle, like diet and physical activity, to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed by one medication it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will help you choose the best medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.