Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when the body is unable to produce enough insulin, or fails to make use of the insulin it produces effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help to prevent or delay the disease. It is also essential to be aware of symptoms to determine what’s wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or is unable to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t utilize it correctly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels can become too high in time. 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 a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. The process of destruction can last for several years or even decades before eventually resulting in the total absence of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activities to keep their blood sugar levels within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t producing 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 can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
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 at a greater risk chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of women suffering from diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urination, called polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t equipped to remove it in a proper manner.
Men with diabetes Men: Symptoms
In diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
People who have diabetes often feel thirsty and need to drink large quantities of fluids, up to four liters daily.
Men may also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, reduce your weight and risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods like fruits vegetables, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may also want to limit the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks often have a lot of sugar and can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are usually combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as diet and physical activity, to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t controlled by one medicine it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will assist you to choose the best medicine for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medications like glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.