Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It occurs when the body fails to produce enough insulin or cannot utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help prevent or delay the progression of the disease. It’s also important to be aware of symptoms to determine if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems with your feet, eyes, and kidneys. It can also harm the coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. This destruction can happen over months or even years before eventually resulting in a total lack of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar in a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body does not make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used as energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition by consuming a balanced diet and exercise. They might also need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your blood and kidneys are unable to remove it.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In diabetes the cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This leads to high blood sugar levels. The body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes frequently experience thirst and require to drink large amounts of fluids, up to 4 liters a day.
The men may also shed weight as their bodies rely on muscles for energy instead of 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 crucial aspect of managing your condition. It can help control blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors for heart diseases.
Include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products such as beans, legumes, and beans are good choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may need to limit your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks usually contain a lot of sugar and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within normal levels. These medications are typically combined with changes in lifestyle, like diet and physical activity, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t managed by one medication it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will assist you select the right medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits and lower the risk of complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.