Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease which affects millions of people every year. It occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, or fails to make use of the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and can be treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medications. It is also crucial to understand the symptoms so you can identify whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or fails to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t utilize it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels get too high over time. This can cause issues with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It can also damage the coronary 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 pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. The destruction can take place over many years or months, eventually leading to an inability to produce insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their food, insulin and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t producing 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 so that it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also have to take medications to control their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, like heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
One early warning sign of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the bloodstream and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to eliminate it properly.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is typically because the pancreas does not 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 via urine.
People who have diabetes often experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids, up to four liters per day.
Men may also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels are elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a key element in managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar, manage your weight, and lower the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
You should include whole food items in your diet, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products as well as legumes, beans and beans are excellent choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might want to limit your intake of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks are usually packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within the normal range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes like exercise and diet to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being adequately controlled with one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor will assist you select the right medicine for your preferences and needs.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.