Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can aid in preventing or reducing the disease. It is also crucial to know the symptoms, so you can tell if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas stops making enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t use it properly.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause issues with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also damage your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. The process of destruction can last for many years or months until it eventually leads to the total absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics require insulin every day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar in the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2, your body is not using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood glucose levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
It is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. However women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood and your kidneys aren’t able to remove it correctly.
The signs of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body will then try to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and need to drink a lot of fluids.
The men may also lose weight because their bodies rely on muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels control weight and reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products, beans, and legumes are a good choice. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may want to limit your intake of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain a lot of sugar in them and can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes like exercising and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well managed by one medication it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will guide you to select the right medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.