Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when the body fails to produce enough insulin, or fails to use the insulin that it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and can be treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medication. It is also essential to understand the symptoms so you can determine if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting), which alters the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or is unable to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or are unable to use it properly.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get too high in time. This can lead to problems with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also damage 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 pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. This destruction can occur over many months or even years and eventually lead to an absence of insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used to create energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes with a healthy diet and exercise. They also may need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races as well as ethnic groups age, genders, and ages. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a greater likelihood of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
One early warning sign of women suffering from diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urination, called polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to eliminate it effectively.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is usually due to the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids. It can be as much as four liters a day.
Men can also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar, reduce your weight and the risk of developing heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are excellent choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may also be able to reduce the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks are often high in sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled by one medicine another medicine could be added. Your doctor will work with you to choose the most appropriate medication for your needs and preferences.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the chance of developing complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.