Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it’s not able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and can be treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medication. It is also essential to know the symptoms, so you can identify if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or aren’t able to utilize it properly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels are too high over time. This can lead to problems in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease which means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The destruction can take place over several months or even years and eventually lead to an absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics must take insulin each day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body may not use insulin the way 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 diabetes sufferers must treat their condition through a healthy diet and exercise. They may also have to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience complications, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for diabetes in women. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and the kidneys aren’t able remove it properly.
Men with diabetes Men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. The body tries to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
People who have diabetes often experience thirst and require to drink large amounts of fluids. This can be up to 4 liters a day.
Men can be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, reduce your weight and heart disease risk factors.
You should include whole food items in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products as well as legumes, beans and beans are great choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might consider limiting your consumption of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks usually contain plenty of sugar in them and can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in the normal range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes such as exercising and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed by one medication, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will work with you to select the most appropriate medicine for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose inhibitors that lower blood sugar, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and come in both tablets and injections.