Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medications. It is also crucial to know the symptoms, to determine whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels are too high in time. This can lead to problems with the eyes, feet, and kidneys. It could also harm the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. This process can take many years or months before eventually resulting in a total lack of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics require insulin every day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust food, insulin and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not utilize insulin in the way it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which can then be used to create energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes through a healthy diet and exercise. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher likelihood of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t able to remove it effectively.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. Your body will then try to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle to make energy, instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels stay elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your condition. It can help control blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products, beans, and legumes are great choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may also consider limiting the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks are typically high in sugar which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes like exercising and diet to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled by one medicine then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will work with you to determine the most appropriate medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.