Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions each year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help to prevent or delay the development of the disease. It’s also important to be aware of symptoms to determine what’s wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health issue that affects how your body converts food into energy. It happens when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or is unable to use it properly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels can become excessively high over time. This can cause problems in the feet, eyes and kidneys. It can also harm the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease which means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. This process can take several years or even decades until it eventually leads to an inability to produce insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes require insulin every 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 in the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and follow a healthy diet. They also may need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects all races, ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. However, women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater likelihood of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and vision loss.
One of the early signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to remove it effectively.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty and require to drink plenty of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar levels, control your weight, and reduce heart disease risk factors.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods like fruits vegetables, whole grains beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may also want to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks typically contain a lot of sugar which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes, like exercise and diet to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being managed well with one medicine, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will work with you to pick the most appropriate medicine for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications like glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits and lower the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.