Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions each year. It happens when the body does not produce enough insulin or use the insulin that it has effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and can be treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medication. It is also crucial to understand the symptoms so you can tell whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting), which affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or fails to use it correctly.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can cause issues in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your 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. This destruction can happen over months or years and eventually lead to the complete absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust food, insulin and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which can then be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers have to manage their condition through a healthy diet and exercise. They may also need to take medication to regulate their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of women with diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to eliminate it properly.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is usually due to the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This leads to high blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently are thirsty and have to drink large quantities of fluids, as much as four liters daily.
Men can also experience weight loss because their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is because their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are a good choice. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may consider limiting your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks are typically packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These drugs are often paired with lifestyle changes, such as diet and physical activity, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t controlled by one medicine then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will assist you to determine the best medication for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of developing complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.