Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and can be avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It’s also important 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 problem (long-lasting) that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to properly use it.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to use it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels rise as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It can also cause damage to your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. The destruction can take place over months or years and eventually lead to the total absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar levels within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which is then used as energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers must treat their condition by eating a balanced diet and exercise. They may also need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are more at 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 women suffering from diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your bloodstream and kidneys can’t filter it out.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This usually happens because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood sugar levels. The body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids. This can be up to four liters daily.
Men can also shed weight as their bodies utilize muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar, manage your weight, and lower the risk of developing heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods like fruits, whole grains, vegetables beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may want to limit your intake of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks often have high levels of sugar in them, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are usually combined with changes in lifestyle, like physical activity and diet, to 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 assist you to select the most appropriate medicine for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and come in both tablet and injection forms.