Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and can be prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is also crucial to know the symptoms, so you can determine if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting), which impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or fails to use it properly.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it properly.
The blood sugar levels rise as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. It can also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. This process can last for months or even years and eventually lead to a complete lack of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their the insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which can then be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers need to treat their diabetes by consuming a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races as well as ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. However women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, like heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for diabetes in women. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood and your kidneys aren’t able to remove it correctly.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition where cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This results in elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes frequently experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids. This can be up to 4 liters a day.
Men may also experience weight loss because their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a crucial aspect of managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, control your weight, and reduce heart disease risk factors.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are a good choice. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may want to limit your intake of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks often have lots of sugar in them that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These drugs are often paired with changes in lifestyle, like exercise and diet to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not well controlled with one medication, you might need to take a different medication. Your doctor will assist you to choose the best medication for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, offer cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.