Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people 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 can be treated and prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medications. It is important to understand the symptoms to determine whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting) that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can cause issues with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It could also cause damage to coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, meaning that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This destruction can occur over many months or even years, eventually resulting in an absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar levels within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which can then be utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects all races and ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. Women are more at risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for diabetes in women. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the bloodstream and your kidneys aren’t equipped to filter it out correctly.
The signs of diabetes in men
In diabetes it is when cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is usually because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body will then attempt to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes frequently experience thirst and require to drink large amounts of fluids. It can be as much as four liters a day.
Men may also lose weight since their bodies rely on muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods, including fruits vegetables, whole grains beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may need to limit your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks are typically high in sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes like exercise and diet to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being managed well with one medication, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will assist you choose the best medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They are also useful for weight loss and are available in tablets and injections.