Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions each year. It occurs when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help prevent or delay the disease. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms to know what’s wrong and get 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 isn’t producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it in a proper way.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels are too high in time. This can lead to problems in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. The destruction can take place over several years or even decades until it eventually leads to a total lack of insulin.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes every day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2, your body is not making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormonal substance that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which can then be utilized to generate energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes by consuming a balanced diet and exercise. They may also have to take medications to control their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. However women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience complications, like heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One early warning sign of women suffering from diabetes is increased thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the bloodstream and the kidneys aren’t able filter it out properly.
The signs of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. The body then attempts to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty and require to drink lots of fluids.
The men may also lose weight because their bodies utilize muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels are high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, reduce your weight and risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are good choices. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks are usually packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are often combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as physical activity and diet, to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled by one medicine then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will assist you to pick the best medicine for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of complications. They also help with weight loss and are available in tablets and injections.