Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when the body is unable to produce enough insulin, or fails to utilize the insulin it has 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 determine if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it correctly.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause issues with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It may also damage your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition which means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. The process of destruction can last for several years or even decades and eventually lead to the total absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics need to take insulin every day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2, your body is not making the insulin it needs to. 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.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They also may need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
It is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience complications, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes), and vision loss.
One early warning sign of women with diabetes is a rise in thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your bloodstream and kidneys can’t eliminate it.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body will then attempt to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men can also shed weight as their bodies rely on muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels are high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help control blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole food items, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might be advised to limit your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks are usually high in sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are often combined with changes in lifestyle, like eating habits and physical activity to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled by one medicine another medicine could be added. Your doctor will work with you to select the most appropriate medication for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the chance of developing complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and they are available in tablets and injections.