Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition which affects millions of people every year. It happens when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can aid in preventing or reducing the disease. It’s also crucial to be aware of the symptoms to be able to tell what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting), which affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or fails to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to make it work properly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels get too high over time. This can cause problems with your feet, eyes and kidneys. It can also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your 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. This process can last for many months or even years, eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They must also monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which can then be utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, including heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your blood and your kidneys are not able to filter it out.
The signs of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is usually because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. The body then attempts to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and they have to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight, and lower heart disease risk factors.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods, such as fruits, whole grains, vegetables, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might also consider limiting the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks are often packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being managed well with one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor can help you pick the best medication to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, offer cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.