Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness which affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it’s not able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and can be treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medication. It is also important to know the symptoms, so you can determine whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or fails to use it correctly.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t utilize it correctly.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause issues in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It could also harm your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. This process can last for months or even years, eventually resulting in an absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar levels within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body may not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood glucose levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races as well as ethnic groups age, genders, and ages. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for diabetes in women. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood, and the kidneys aren’t able filter it out properly.
Diabetes in men Men: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men may also lose weight because their bodies utilize muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are excellent choices. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might want to limit your intake of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks usually contain high levels of sugar in them that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled on one medicine another medicine could be added. Your doctor will guide you to select the right medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablets and injections.