Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help to prevent or delay the disease. It is also crucial to understand the symptoms so you can tell whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas stops making enough insulin or can’t 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 don’t make enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it properly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels are excessively high over time. This can lead to problems with your feet, eyes, and kidneys. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition which means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. The process of destruction can last for several years or even decades before eventually resulting in the total absence of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They also must monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their the insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body does not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races, ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. Women are more at risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to experience complications, including heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of women suffering from diabetes is a rise in thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the bloodstream and your kidneys aren’t equipped to remove it effectively.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
In diabetes, cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is usually because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large quantities of fluids, up to four liters per day.
Men may also experience weight loss because their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels are high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole food items in your diet, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products and legumes are excellent choices. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may also want to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks often have lots of sugar in them which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in the normal range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes like exercising and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being adequately controlled with one medication, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will work with you to pick the most appropriate medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss, and are available in tablets and injections.