Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people every year. It is caused because the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or use the insulin that it produces effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can aid in preventing or reducing the onset of the disease. It’s also important to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell the signs of a problem and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to make it work properly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels become too high in time. This can cause problems with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It could also harm your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. This process can take many years or months and eventually lead to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust food, insulin and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2, your body is not producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which is then used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also need to take medication to control their blood glucose levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnic groups, ages, and genders. Women are more susceptible than males.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for women suffering from diabetes. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to get rid of it correctly.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
In diabetes it is when cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This results in high blood sugar levels. Your body will then try to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes typically experience thirst and require to drink large amounts of fluids, as much as 4 liters a day.
Men also may lose weight since their bodies make use of muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a vital aspect of managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, reduce your weight and risk factors for heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products, beans, and legumes are good choices. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might need to limit your consumption of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks often have a lot of sugar which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes, such as exercising and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled on one medicine then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will work with you to determine the most appropriate medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, offer kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.