Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that 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.
Exercise, diet and medications can aid in preventing or reducing the development of the disease. It is also essential to know the symptoms, so you can determine if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to make it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It can also damage your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease which means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The destruction can take place over months or years before eventually resulting in the total absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of exercise to maintain their blood sugar within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes the body does not make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and eat a balanced diet. They might also need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races as well as ethnic groups, ages, and genders. Women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a higher likelihood of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for diabetes in women. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood and the kidneys aren’t able eliminate it in a proper manner.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and need to drink lots of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole food items, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may want to limit your intake of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar which can result in elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are often combined with changes in lifestyle, like physical activity and diet, to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels are not being controlled by one medicine, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will assist you to determine the best medication for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and they come in both tablet and injection forms.