Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions each year. It is caused when the body fails to produce enough insulin or cannot utilize the insulin it produces effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help to prevent or delay the onset of the disease. It is also important to recognize the signs so you can identify if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting) that alters how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it in a proper way.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels become too high in time. This can cause issues with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It can also harm the coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease which means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. This destruction can happen over several years or even decades until it eventually leads to an inability to produce insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body may not utilize insulin in the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used as energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes with a healthy diet and exercise. They may also need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races and ethnicities, ages, and genders. However women are at a higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to develop complications, including heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One of the first signs of women suffering from diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your bloodstream, and your kidneys cannot filter it out.
The signs of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body attempts to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty and require to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss because their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is because their blood sugar levels remain high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar, manage your weight, and lower the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
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 a good choice. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may also need to limit the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks are often packed with sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes like exercise and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled on one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will work with you to choose the most appropriate medicine for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of developing complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.