Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions each year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and can be avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to determine what’s wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which alters the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to properly use it.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to use it properly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels become too high in time. This can lead to problems with your 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 insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. This process can last for several months or even years until it leads to the absence of insulin completely.
Insulin is needed by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They must also monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it is utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects all races, ethnic groups, ages, and genders. However women are at a greater risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for diabetes in women. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your bloodstream, and your kidneys cannot remove it.
Diabetes in men Men: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes it is when cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People who have diabetes often have a thirsty feeling and must drink large quantities of fluids, up to four liters daily.
Men can also lose weight as their bodies utilize muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is because blood sugar levels stay high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help manage blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods like fruits whole grains, vegetables as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might also want to limit the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar in them, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are usually combined with lifestyle changes, like physical activity and diet, to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed on one medication it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will assist you to determine the best medication for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medications like glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose inhibitors that lower blood sugar levels, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.