Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that is affecting millions of people each year. It happens when the body does not produce enough insulin, or fails to make use of the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help to prevent or delay the disease. It’s important to be aware of symptoms to determine if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting) that alters the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin, or their bodies cannot use it properly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. This destruction can occur over months or even for years before resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
Type 1 diabetics need to take insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells to remove 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 follow a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to regulate their blood glucose levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are at higher risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to develop complications, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes), and vision loss.
One of the early signs of women with diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your blood and your kidneys are not able to filter it out.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In diabetes the cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This usually happens because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body will then attempt to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss because their bodies break down muscle to make energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels are elevated 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, manage your weight, and lower the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods, including fruits whole grains, vegetables beans, and low-fat dairy. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might want to limit your intake of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks usually contain a lot of sugar in them, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as eating habits and physical activity to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being managed well with one medicine, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to select the best medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and come in both tablets and injections.