Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help prevent or delay the development of the disease. It is also essential to be aware of the signs, so you can tell whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting) that impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas stops making enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it work properly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels become too high over time. This can lead to problems with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It may also cause damage to the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, meaning that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The process of destruction can last for several years or even decades until it eventually leads to the total absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2, your body is not functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used as 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 control their blood glucose levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
It is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to experience complications, including heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of diabetes in women is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood, and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to remove it in a proper manner.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a condition where cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This causes elevated blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and they have to drink lots of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight, and lower risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole food items, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may need to limit your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks often have plenty of sugar in them that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes such as eating habits and exercise to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well managed on one medication, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor can help you pick the best medication for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, offer cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and come in both tablet and injection forms.