Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that is affecting millions of people each year. It is caused when the body fails to produce enough insulin or utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can aid in preventing or reducing the progression of the disease. It’s also important to be aware of the symptoms to be able to tell whether something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or fails to use it properly.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it properly.
The blood sugar levels increase with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause problems in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition which means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. This destruction can occur over months or even years and eventually lead to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar in a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it is used as energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes with a healthy diet and exercise. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater likelihood of developing complications than 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 because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your blood, and your kidneys cannot remove it.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This usually happens because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This results in high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and they need to drink lots of fluids.
Men also may lose weight since their bodies make use of muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is an important part of managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, control your weight, and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole food items, including fruits vegetables, whole grains as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might also be able to reduce the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks are typically packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These medications are usually combined with changes in lifestyle, like physical activity and diet, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed on one medication, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor can help you determine the most appropriate medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, offer kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and they come in both tablet and injection forms.