Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and can be prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to determine whether something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects how your body transforms food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t utilize it correctly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems with your feet, eyes and kidneys. It could also harm your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This process can take several years or even decades, eventually leading to a total lack of insulin.
Insulin is required by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activity levels to maintain their blood sugar within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and eat a healthy diet. They also may need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However, women are at a greater risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to develop complications, including heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your blood and kidneys are unable to filter it out.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This is typically because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. The body tries to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and need to drink lots of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss because their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy, instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels stay high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, control your weight, and reduce heart disease risk factors.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods, including fruits whole grains, vegetables as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might also need to limit the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks are typically high in sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, like exercise and diet to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not well controlled with one medicine, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will assist you to select the best medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, offer cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and they are available in tablets and injections.