Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It’s important to be aware of symptoms to determine the signs of a problem and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting), which alters how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin or can’t use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. People with type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to make it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can cause problems with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It may also damage your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. This process can last for months or even for years before resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used for energy.
People with type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition by consuming a balanced diet and exercise. They might also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races as well as 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 than men, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One of the early signs of diabetes in women is increased thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the bloodstream and your kidneys aren’t equipped to eliminate it in a proper manner.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This usually happens because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes typically are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids, up to four liters per day.
Men may also experience weight loss because their bodies break down muscle for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a key element in managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, reduce your weight and risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole food items in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products such as beans, legumes, and beans are good choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might need to limit your consumption of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks are typically packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in the normal range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes like exercising and diet to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled on one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will assist you to determine the best medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the risk of complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and they come in both tablets and injections.