Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions each year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help to prevent or delay the disease. It is also crucial to know the symptoms, so you can tell if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or fails to use it properly.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. People with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t use it properly.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems with the eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also damage the blood vessels 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 pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. The destruction can take place over months or years, eventually leading to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by those who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar levels within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not utilize insulin in the way it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics must 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 higher risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
One early warning sign of diabetes in women is a rise in thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t able to get rid of it correctly.
The signs of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This causes elevated blood sugar levels. The body then attempts to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and they have to drink plenty of fluids.
The men may also lose weight because their bodies use muscle for energy rather than 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 crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole food items, including fruits vegetables, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may consider limiting your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks are usually packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes such as exercising and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well managed on one medication it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will help you choose the best medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablet and injection forms.