Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It happens when the body fails to produce enough insulin or make use of the insulin it produces effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can aid in preventing or reducing the progression of the disease. It is also essential to know the symptoms, so you can tell whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which alters the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas stops making enough insulin or can’t use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to make it work properly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels become excessively high over time. This can lead to problems in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also cause damage to the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. This process can take several years or even decades, eventually leading to a total lack of insulin.
Insulin is required by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activity levels to keep their blood sugar levels within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also have 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, and genders. Women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of women suffering from diabetes is increased thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and the kidneys aren’t able eliminate it correctly.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This causes elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently are thirsty and have to drink large quantities of fluids, as much as 4 liters a day.
Men may also lose weight as their bodies use muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels control weight and reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
You should include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are good choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might consider limiting your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks often have high levels of sugar, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These drugs are often paired with changes to your lifestyle, such as physical activity and diet, to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar is not being managed well with one medication, you might need to take a different medication. Your doctor will assist you to pick the most appropriate medication for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medications, like 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, while reducing the risk of developing complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.