Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when the body is unable to make enough insulin or make use of the insulin it has effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medications. It is also important to recognize the signs so you can determine whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas stops making enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it work properly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels become too high over time. This can cause problems with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also cause damage to your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. This process can take several years or even decades and eventually lead to an inability to produce insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not producing insulin as 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 as energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition by eating a balanced diet and exercise. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnic groups, ages, and genders. Women are more susceptible than males.
Women with diabetes have a greater likelihood of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of women with diabetes is a rise in thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t able to filter it out correctly.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
In diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body attempts to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes typically feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids, as much as 4 liters a day.
Men may also lose weight as their bodies utilize muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is because blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help control blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors for heart diseases.
You should include whole food items in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products, beans, and legumes are excellent choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might also need to limit the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks are usually high in sugar and can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may recommend diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in the normal range. These medications are typically combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as diet and physical activity, to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed by one medication then a second medication could be added. Your doctor can help you pick the best medication for your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the chance of developing complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.