Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people each year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the disease. It is important to recognize the signs so you can identify if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or isn’t able to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it work properly.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get too high in time. This can cause issues with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It could also harm the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease which means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. This process can last for months or even years before resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
Insulin is required by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of exercise to maintain their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormonal substance that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which can then be used as energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition by consuming a balanced diet and exercise. They also may need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to experience complications, like heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for diabetes in women. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your bloodstream and kidneys are unable to remove it.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is typically because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This leads to high blood sugar levels. Your body will then attempt to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
People who have diabetes often experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids, as much as four liters a day.
Men can be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle 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 diet for diabetes is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help manage blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce 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 may also need to limit the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. 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-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes, like eating habits and physical activity to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled by one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will work with you to determine the most appropriate medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications like glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, offer kidney and cardiovascular benefits and lower the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss, and are available in tablets and injections.