Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when the body fails to produce enough insulin, or fails to use the insulin that it has effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and can be prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It’s important to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting), which affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to use it effectively.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get too high in time. This can lead to problems in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It may also cause damage to the arteries in your heart and brain.
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 destruction can happen over months or even years and eventually lead to a complete lack of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They must also monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers need to treat their condition with a healthy diet and exercise. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood glucose levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. However women are at a higher risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your bloodstream, and your kidneys cannot eliminate it.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is typically because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This leads to elevated blood sugar levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and they need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men can also lose weight since their bodies rely on muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce heart disease risk factors.
You should include whole food items in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are great choices. 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 often have lots of sugar that can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within normal levels. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes like exercise and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not well controlled with one medication, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will work with you to select the best medicine for your needs and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They are also useful for weight loss and come in both tablet and injection forms.