Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the progression of the disease. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms to determine what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects how your body transforms food into energy. It happens when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or isn’t able to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is known as glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t use it properly.
The blood sugar levels rise with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause issues with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also harm the blood vessels in your heart and 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 in the pancreas. This process can take months or even years until it eventually leads to the total absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes all day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar levels within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it is used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
It is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, such as heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes), and vision loss.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your bloodstream and your kidneys are not able to filter it out.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
In diabetes the cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty and require to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can be able to experience weight loss too as their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a vital aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar levels control weight and reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products as well as legumes, beans and beans are excellent choices. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might be advised to limit your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks are typically high in sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in the normal range. These medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being managed well with one medication, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will guide you to select the right medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications like glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, offer cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They are also useful for weight loss and are available in tablets and injections.