Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that is affecting millions of people each year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is also important to know the symptoms, so you can determine whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting), which affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or fails to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. 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 rise as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also harm the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This destruction can occur over months or even for years before resulting in an absence of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to maintain their blood sugar within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t using 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 as energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to regulate their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races as well as ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. However women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of diabetes in women is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to filter it out correctly.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a condition where cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and they have to drink plenty of fluids.
The men may also lose weight because their bodies rely on muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is an important part of managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage your weight, and lower the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, such as fruits vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks are usually high in sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in normal levels. These drugs are often paired with changes in lifestyle, like physical activity and diet, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t controlled on one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will assist you to pick the most appropriate medication to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, offer kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.