Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it’s not able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the development of the disease. It is also crucial to be aware of the signs, so you can tell whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or aren’t able to utilize it effectively.
The blood sugar levels rise with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause issues with the eyes, feet, and kidneys. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease which means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. This destruction can happen over many years or months, eventually leading to an inability to produce insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activity levels to keep their blood sugar levels within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body may not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it is used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects all races, ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. Women are more at risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and vision loss.
One of the early signs of diabetes in women is a rise in thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your bloodstream, and your kidneys cannot filter it out.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition where cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This leads to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People who have diabetes often have a thirsty feeling and must drink large quantities of fluids. It can be as much as four liters daily.
Men may also shed weight as their bodies utilize muscle for energy rather than fat. This is because their blood sugar levels are high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, reduce your weight and heart disease risk factors.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods, such as fruits vegetables, whole grains as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may also consider limiting the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks often have a lot of sugar, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within normal levels. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed by one medication then a second medication could 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 cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They also help with weight loss and come in both tablet and injection forms.