Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition which affects millions of people every year. It happens when the body fails to produce enough insulin or utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help to prevent or delay the disease. It is also essential to be aware of symptoms to determine if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or fails to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or cannot use it effectively.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get too high over time. This can lead to issues with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart 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 inside the pancreas. This process can last for months or even years, eventually resulting in an absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also must monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their food, insulin and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes the body does not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which is then used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. However women are at a higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience complications, like heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of women with diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your blood and kidneys are unable to filter it out.
Diabetes in men Men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body attempts to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
People who have diabetes often experience thirst and require to drink large amounts of fluids, up to four liters a day.
Men can also lose weight as their bodies make use of muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes 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.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are great choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may consider limiting your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain lots of sugar in them that can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes, like diet and physical activity, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being managed well with one medication, you might require a second medication. Your doctor will guide you to choose the best medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablets and injections.