Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, or fails to utilize the insulin it produces effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medications. It is important to be aware of the signs, to determine if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health issue that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or fails to properly use it.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t use it properly.
The blood sugar levels increase as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can cause issues with your feet, eyes and kidneys. It may also cause damage to the arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease and means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The destruction can take place over many years or months and eventually lead to an inability to produce insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people with type 1 diabetes every day. They also must monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also need to take medications to control their blood glucose levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One of the first signs of women suffering from diabetes is a rise in thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in your blood and the kidneys aren’t able eliminate it properly.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is usually because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This results in elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes typically have a thirsty feeling and must drink large amounts of fluids, as much as four liters per day.
Men can be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole food items, including fruits, whole grains, vegetables as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may also need to limit the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks are often packed with sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not well controlled with one medication, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will guide you to determine the most appropriate medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.