Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It happens 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 prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is also essential to be aware of the symptoms to be able to tell what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects how your body turns food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to use it correctly.
The blood sugar levels rise with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause issues in the feet, eyes and kidneys. It can also cause damage to your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. The destruction can happen over several months or even years, eventually resulting in a complete lack of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar levels within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t utilize insulin in the way 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 as energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects all races and ethnic groups, ages, and genders. However women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to develop complications, like heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your bloodstream, and your kidneys cannot filter it out.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This leads to high blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes typically experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids, up to 4 liters a day.
Men can also shed weight as their bodies use muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your condition. It can help control blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole food items, including fruits vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may consider limiting your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks typically contain a lot of sugar in them, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in normal levels. 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 managed by one medication then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will assist you pick the best medication to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as 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 injectable forms.