Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people each year. It occurs when the body is unable to make enough insulin or use the insulin that it has effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and can be prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It is also important to understand the symptoms so you can tell if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting), which alters the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or isn’t able to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or their bodies cannot use it in a proper way.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels are excessively high over time. This can lead to problems with the eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease which means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. This destruction can happen over months or years until it eventually leads to a total lack of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their the insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body may not make 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 suffering from type 2 diabetes must treat their condition through a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. However women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of women suffering from diabetes is increased thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t equipped to get rid of it correctly.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is typically because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This leads to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and they need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men may be able to experience weight loss too as their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels control weight and reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
You should include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products such as beans, legumes, and beans are a good choice. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might also want to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks often have plenty of sugar in them which can result in elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes like exercising and diet to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being managed well with one medication, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will assist you to pick the best medicine for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the chance of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.