Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that is affecting millions of people each year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medications. It is also essential to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting) that alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it properly.
The blood sugar levels rise as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can cause issues with your feet, eyes, and kidneys. It could also harm the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder which means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. This destruction can occur over months or even years, eventually resulting in a complete lack of insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also need to monitor 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 your body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which can then be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers have to manage their condition through a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races as well as ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of women suffering from diabetes is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t able to filter it out in a proper manner.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
In diabetes, cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is typically because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty and require to drink a lot of fluids.
Men also may lose weight because their bodies use muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar levels, reduce your weight and the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods, such as fruits whole grains, vegetables beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may consider limiting your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar that can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within the normal range. These medications are usually combined with lifestyle changes, like diet and physical activity, to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled by one medicine then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will work with you to pick the best medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.