Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when the body is unable to make enough insulin or use the insulin that it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and can be avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is also crucial to recognize the signs so you can identify if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to make it work properly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels can become excessively high over time. This can lead to issues with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It could also cause damage to arteries in your heart and brain.
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 even years before resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used for energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes with a healthy diet and exercise. They may also have to take medications to control their blood glucose levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races and ethnicities as well as ages and genders. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher likelihood of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood and your kidneys aren’t able to remove it correctly.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
Diabetes is a condition where cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This usually happens because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This leads to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and need to drink lots of fluids.
Men may also lose weight since their bodies rely on muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, reduce your weight and risk factors for 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 might consider limiting your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks are typically high in sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes, such as eating habits and exercise to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t managed by one medication another medicine could be added. Your doctor will assist you to choose the most appropriate medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications like glucagon-like receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and lower the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and come in both tablet and injection forms.