Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It occurs when the body fails to produce enough insulin, or fails to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the onset of the disease. It is important to know the symptoms, so you can tell whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting), which alters the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to use it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It can also harm the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This destruction can occur over many months or even years before resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body does not utilize insulin in the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also need to take medication to regulate their blood glucose levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races and ethnic groups age, genders, and ages. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your blood, and your kidneys cannot remove it.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes typically are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids, as much as four liters per day.
Men can also experience weight loss because their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy instead of fat. This is because blood sugar levels stay high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may need to limit your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks often have lots of sugar in them, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within a normal range. These drugs are often paired with lifestyle changes, like diet and physical activity, to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled on one medicine it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will assist you select the right medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the chance of developing complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.