Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it’s not able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and can be avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It’s important to be aware of symptoms to determine the signs of a problem and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to make it work properly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels can become too high over time. This can lead to problems with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It can also cause damage to your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. The destruction can happen over months or even years and eventually lead to an absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes all day. They must also monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used as energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes by eating a balanced diet and exercise. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
It 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 higher likelihood of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased urination, called polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t able to remove it in a proper manner.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a condition where cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and need to drink a lot of fluids.
The men may also lose weight because their bodies rely on muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods, such as fruits whole grains, vegetables, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might want to limit your intake of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks are often high in sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might recommend diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are often combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as eating habits and physical activity to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being managed well with one medication, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to choose the best medicine for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss, and are available in tablet and injection forms.