Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can aid in preventing or reducing the onset of the disease. It’s also important to be aware of the symptoms to be able to tell if something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, or fails to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it work properly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels are too high in time. This can lead to problems with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It could also harm your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition and means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The destruction can take place over several months or even years before resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body may not utilize insulin in the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers need to treat their condition with a healthy diet and regular exercise. They also may need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. However, women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, such as heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for diabetes in women. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your bloodstream and your kidneys are not able to filter it out.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is typically because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
People who have diabetes often experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids. This can be up to four liters daily.
Men can also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle to make energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
You should include whole food items in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are a good choice. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might consider limiting your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks usually contain a lot of sugar in them that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These drugs are often paired with changes in lifestyle, like eating habits and physical activity to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled on one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will work with you to pick the most appropriate medication to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, provide cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and are available in tablets and injections.