Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help prevent or delay the disease. It’s also important to be aware of symptoms so you can tell if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting), which alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or fails to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin or cannot use it effectively.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels become too high over time. This can cause issues with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It may also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. This process can take months or years until it eventually leads to the total absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust the insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2, your body is not functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition by eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One of the early signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your bloodstream and your kidneys are not able to filter it out.
The signs of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This usually happens because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and they need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can also lose weight as their bodies rely on muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, including fruits vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might also want to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks are usually packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within the normal range. These drugs are often paired with changes in lifestyle, like physical activity and diet, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled by one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will work with you to pick the best medication for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and lower the risk of complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and come in both tablet and injection forms.