Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that is affecting millions of people each year. It is caused because the body doesn’t make enough insulin or use the insulin that it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and can be prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medications. It is also crucial to understand the symptoms so you can determine whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that alters the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or cannot use it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels are excessively high over time. This can cause problems with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It may also cause damage to the coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This process can take several years or even decades before eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed 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 glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to control their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. However, women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to remove it properly.
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 typically due to the fact that the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This leads to high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently experience thirst and require to drink large amounts of fluids, up to four liters a day.
Men can also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle to make energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
You should include whole food items in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products as well as legumes, beans and beans are great choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might want to limit your intake of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks are often packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in normal levels. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes, such as exercising and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not well controlled with one medication, you may require a second medication. Your doctor can help you pick the best medication to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications like glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.