Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions each year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it’s not able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help prevent or delay the disease. It’s also important to be aware of the symptoms to be able to tell whether something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or their bodies don’t use it properly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels become too high over time. This can cause issues with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also cause damage to your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. This process can last for many months or even years before resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body does not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and eat a healthy diet. They might also need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects all races and ethnic groups, ages, and genders. However women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for diabetes in women. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t able to remove it effectively.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
In diabetes it is when cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This leads to high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and they have to drink plenty of fluids.
The men may also shed weight as their bodies use muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels stay elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes is a crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help control blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods like fruits vegetables, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may also be able to reduce the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks often have a lot of sugar, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are usually combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as exercise and diet to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being managed well with one medication, you might need to take a different medication. Your doctor can help you choose the best medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.