Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the disease. It is also important to know the symptoms, to determine if there is a problem and seek 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 stops making enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin or their bodies don’t use it properly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can cause problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It may also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition which means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. This process can take many years or months and eventually lead to the total absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes all day. They must also monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which is then used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers must treat their condition with a healthy diet and regular exercise. They might also need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnic groups, ages, and genders. Women are at greater risk than males.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for diabetes in women. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood and your kidneys aren’t able to get rid of it in a proper manner.
Men with diabetes Men: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People who have diabetes often have a thirsty feeling and must drink large quantities of fluids. It can be as much as four liters per day.
Men also may lose weight since their bodies use muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help control blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods like fruits vegetables, whole grains as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might need to limit your consumption of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks usually contain plenty of sugar in them that can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled by one medicine another medicine could be added. Your doctor will assist you to select the most appropriate medication for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.