Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition which affects millions of people every year. It is caused when the body fails to produce enough insulin or make use of the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can aid in preventing or reducing the disease. It is also important to know the symptoms, so you can tell whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas stops making enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it in a proper way.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get excessively high over time. This can cause issues with your feet, eyes, and kidneys. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The destruction can happen over many months or even years until it leads to a complete lack of insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people with type 1 diabetes every 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, your body is not functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers need to treat their condition by eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also have to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of diabetes in women is a rise in thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to filter it out properly.
Diabetes in men Men: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood sugar levels. The body tries to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and they have 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 because blood sugar levels remain high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is an important part of managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are good choices. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may need to limit your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain lots of sugar in them and can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes such as eating habits and exercise to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled on one medicine then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will assist you pick the best medication for your preferences and needs.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and come in both tablets and injections.