Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions each year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and can be prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell what’s wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas stops making enough insulin, or fails to use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it work properly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels become excessively high over time. This can cause issues with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder and means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The destruction can take place over many months or even years before resulting in 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 activity to keep their blood sugar levels within an acceptable 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 that assists your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used to create energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition with a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects all races, ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. However women are at a higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience complications, including heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for diabetes in women. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to get rid of it properly.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes is a condition where cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty and require to drink plenty of fluids.
Men may be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle to make energy, instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels remain high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage your weight, and lower the risk of developing heart disease.
You should include whole food items in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products such as beans, legumes, and beans are great choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may also want to limit the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks are often high in sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes, such as eating habits and exercise to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being controlled by one medication, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will guide you to determine the most appropriate medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the chance of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injection forms.