Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that is affecting millions of people each year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medications. It is also essential to know the symptoms, so you can determine whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects the way your body transforms food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it correctly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can cause problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also harm the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder which means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. This process can take months or even years until it eventually leads to a total lack of insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to control their blood glucose levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races, ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. Women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience complications, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes), and vision loss.
One early warning sign of diabetes in women is increased thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys aren’t able to filter it out effectively.
The signs of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is usually because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This results in high blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty and require to drink plenty of fluids.
Men can also lose weight because their bodies utilize muscles for energy instead of fat. This is because blood sugar levels remain high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a key element in managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, reduce your weight and the risk of developing heart disease.
You should include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products such as beans, legumes, and beans are great choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may be advised to limit your consumption of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks are usually packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within normal levels. These medications are usually combined with changes in lifestyle, like eating habits and physical activity to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being adequately controlled with one medicine, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will guide you to determine the most appropriate medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the chance of developing complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.