Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that is affecting millions of people each year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it isn’t able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medications. It is also crucial to recognize the signs so you can identify whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels are too high in time. This can cause problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also cause damage to your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. This process can last for many months or even years before resulting in a complete lack of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body does not utilize insulin in the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which can then be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races, ethnic groups, ages, and genders. However women are at a higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to develop complications, including heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes), and vision loss.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for women suffering from diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to filter it out properly.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
In diabetes the cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is usually because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes frequently experience thirst and require to drink large amounts of fluids, up to four liters a day.
Men can also lose weight since their bodies rely on muscle for energy rather than fat. This is because their blood sugar levels remain high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar, reduce your weight and heart disease risk factors.
Include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products such as beans, legumes, and beans 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 often have plenty of sugar and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are usually combined with changes in lifestyle, like exercise and diet to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not well controlled with one medication, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will guide you to select the right medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar levels and provide benefits 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 injectable and tablet forms.