Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It occurs because the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or make use of the insulin it produces effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the onset of the disease. It is also essential to recognize the signs so you can determine whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (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 the hormone that helps your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it work properly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels are excessively high over time. This can cause issues with your feet, eyes, and kidneys. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. This process can take months or even years before eventually resulting in a total lack of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics need to take insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar in the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2, your body is not using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and eat a balanced diet. They also may need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are more at risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, like heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women suffering from diabetes. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood, and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to remove it in a proper manner.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
In diabetes it is when cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can be able to experience weight loss too as their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help manage blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products such as beans, legumes, and beans are good choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks usually contain a lot of sugar in them which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within a normal range. These medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, like physical activity and diet, to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar is not being controlled by one medication, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will assist you select the right medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, offer kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss, and come in both tablets and injections.