Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions each year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it’s not able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and can be prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It is also essential to be aware of symptoms to determine what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health issue that affects how your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas stops making enough insulin, or fails to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it work properly.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can cause issues with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also cause damage to your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. The destruction can take place over many months or even years, eventually resulting in an absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which is then used as energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers have to manage their condition by eating a balanced diet and exercise. They may also have to take medications to control their blood glucose levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races and ethnicities as well as ages and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of women suffering from diabetes is a rise in 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 properly.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is usually because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This causes elevated blood sugar levels. Your body will then attempt to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids. This can be up to 4 liters a day.
Men may also lose weight as their bodies rely on muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels control weight and reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
You should include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products such as beans, legumes, and beans are a good choice. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might also need to limit the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks are often high in sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within a normal range. These medications are often combined with changes in lifestyle, like physical activity and diet, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled on one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor can help you pick the best medication for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss, and are available in tablet and injection forms.