Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness which affects millions of people every year. It happens when the body fails to produce enough insulin or cannot utilize the insulin it produces effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and can be treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medications. It’s also important to be aware of the symptoms to know if something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting), which alters the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin or their bodies cannot use it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels are excessively high over time. This can cause problems with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It can also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your 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 many years or months and eventually lead to a total lack of insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activities to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2, your body is not functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it is utilized to generate energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes must treat their condition with a healthy diet and regular exercise. They might also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
It is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for diabetes in women. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to get rid of it properly.
Diabetes in men Men: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes it is when cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is usually due to the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss since their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy instead of fat. This is because blood sugar levels are high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products and legumes are great choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might also be able to reduce the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks typically contain a lot of sugar in them and can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These drugs are often paired with changes in lifestyle, like diet and physical activity, to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels are not being controlled by one medicine, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will help 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 reduce blood sugar, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and lower the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and they come in both tablets and injections.