Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions each year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it’s not able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the development of the disease. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms so you can tell whether something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body transforms food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or fails to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin or aren’t able to utilize it properly.
The blood sugar levels rise as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can cause issues in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. 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 pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. The process of destruction can last for several years or even decades before eventually resulting in an inability to produce insulin.
Type 1 diabetics need to take insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust their the insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2, your body is not functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which is then utilized to generate energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes must treat their condition by eating a balanced diet and exercise. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One of the early signs of women suffering from diabetes is a rise in thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your blood, and your kidneys cannot eliminate it.
Diabetes in men Men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is typically because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This results in high blood sugar levels. The body then attempts to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and they need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men also may lose weight since their bodies utilize muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, reduce your weight and the risk of developing heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might consider limiting your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks are often packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in normal levels. These medications are usually combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as physical activity and diet, to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not well controlled with one medication, you might need to take a different medication. Your doctor will assist you to pick the best medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss, and they come in both tablet and injection forms.