Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It’s also crucial to be aware of the symptoms to know what’s wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting) that impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels are too high in time. This can cause issues with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also cause damage to your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder and means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This destruction can happen over months or even years, eventually leading to an inability to produce insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people with type 1 diabetes all day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2, your body is not functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races and ethnic groups, ages, and genders. However women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and vision loss.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to remove it effectively.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
In diabetes, cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is typically because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men also may lose weight because their bodies use muscle for energy rather than fat. This is because blood sugar levels are elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are great choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may also want to limit the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks typically contain lots of sugar in them which can result in elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes, such as exercising and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled by one medicine it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will help you determine the most appropriate medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar levels and are beneficial 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 tablet and injectable forms.