Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each 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 progression of the disease. It is also important to know the symptoms, to determine whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects how your body turns food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or isn’t able to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also harm the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. This destruction can occur over months or even years and eventually lead to a complete lack of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics must take insulin each day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar in an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which can then be used as energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes by eating a balanced diet and exercise. They may also have to take medication to control their blood glucose levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races and ethnicities, ages, and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes), and vision loss.
One early warning sign of women suffering from diabetes is a rise in thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your blood, and your kidneys cannot eliminate it.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This causes elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men may be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, including fruits, whole grains, vegetables as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may need to limit your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks are typically high in sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes such as exercising and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not well controlled with one medicine, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will guide you to determine the most appropriate medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the chance of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablets and injections.