Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It happens when the body fails to produce enough insulin, or fails to use the insulin that it produces effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medications. It’s also important to be aware of the symptoms to know the signs of a problem and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting), which affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas stops making enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. People with type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t use it properly.
The blood sugar levels rise as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also cause damage to the heart and brain arteries as well as your 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 happen over several months or even years, eventually resulting in a complete lack of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics need to take insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their food, insulin and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used to create energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes through a healthy diet and exercise. They may also have to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. However women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a greater likelihood of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One early warning sign of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased the frequency of urination, which is 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 correctly.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. Your body will then attempt to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty and require to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can also lose weight as their bodies rely on muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is an important part of managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar, control your weight, and reduce heart disease risk factors.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may need to limit your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks are usually packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in the normal range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled on one medicine another medicine could be added. Your doctor will assist you choose the best medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer medications like glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.