Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease which affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the disease. It is also essential to be aware of the signs, so you can tell whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns 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 aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it effectively.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. This destruction can happen over several years or even decades, eventually leading to a total lack of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics need to take insulin every day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar levels within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood glucose levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to develop complications, like heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One of the early signs of women suffering from diabetes is a rise in thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t equipped to get rid of it effectively.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This leads to elevated blood sugar levels. The body tries to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People who have diabetes often are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids. It can be as much as four liters daily.
Men may also experience weight loss because their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy, instead of fat. This is because blood sugar levels are high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar, reduce your weight and the risk of developing heart disease.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might want to limit your intake of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar in them and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes like exercising and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being adequately controlled with one medication, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor can help you pick the best medication to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the chance of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and come in both tablet and injection forms.