Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that is affecting millions of people each year. It is caused when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or cannot use the insulin that it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It’s important to be aware of symptoms to know the signs of a problem and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting) that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or fails to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or are unable to use it effectively.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels can become excessively high over time. This can lead to problems with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It may also cause damage to the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. This destruction can occur over months or even years and eventually lead to an absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics must take insulin each day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2, your body is not producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used for energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes must treat their condition by consuming a balanced diet and regular exercise. They also may need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the first signs of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the bloodstream and your kidneys aren’t able to get rid of it correctly.
Diabetes in men Men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then attempts to reduce 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 lose weight since their bodies use muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar, reduce your weight and the risk of developing heart disease.
You should include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products as well as legumes, beans and beans are a good choice. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks often have a lot of sugar, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being adequately controlled with one medicine, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will assist you determine the most appropriate medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications like glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss, and come in both tablet and injection forms.