Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help to prevent or delay the progression of the disease. It is also essential to know the symptoms, so you can determine whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health issue that affects how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or fails to utilize it in a proper manner.
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 increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems with the eyes, feet and kidneys. It could also harm your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease and means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. This destruction can occur over months or even for years, eventually resulting in a complete lack of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activities to maintain their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body may not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be utilized to generate energy.
People with type 2 diabetes must treat their condition by consuming a balanced diet and exercise. They may also need to take medications to control their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
It is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. However women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of women suffering from diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your blood, and your kidneys cannot remove it.
Diabetes in men Men: Symptoms
In diabetes it is when cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty and require to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is because blood sugar levels remain elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help control blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole food items in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products, beans, and legumes are great choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may also need to limit the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks are typically high in sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These drugs are often paired with changes to your lifestyle, such as diet and physical activity, to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels are not being adequately controlled with one medication, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will guide you to pick the best medication for your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the risk of developing complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.