Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition which affects millions of people every year. It happens because the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or fails to use the insulin that it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help prevent or delay the progression of the disease. It’s also important to be aware of symptoms to know what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting) that alters the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t utilize it correctly.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get excessively high over time. This can cause problems in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. It can also harm the arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. The destruction can take place over months or even years before resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They must also monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and eat a healthy diet. They also may need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races, ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and vision loss.
One of the early signs of diabetes in women is increased thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your blood, and your kidneys cannot filter it out.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This leads to high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes typically feel thirsty and need to drink large quantities of fluids, up to four liters a day.
Men also may lose weight because their bodies use muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole food items in your diet, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are great choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may be advised to limit your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks are usually high in sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are usually combined with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not well controlled with one medicine, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will help you determine the most appropriate medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the chance of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss, and they come in both tablet and injection forms.