Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it’s not able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help prevent or delay the disease. It is also crucial to recognize the signs to determine whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting), which affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or isn’t able to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or aren’t able to utilize it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause issues with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It may also damage 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 destruction can take place over months or even years and eventually lead to the complete absence of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes 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 the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes the body does not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood glucose levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. However women are at higher risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to experience complications, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women suffering from diabetes. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your blood, and your kidneys cannot remove it.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
In diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is usually due to the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This results in high blood sugar levels. Your body will then attempt to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes typically experience thirst and require to drink large amounts of fluids. This can be up to four liters daily.
Men can also experience weight loss because their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy instead of fat. This is because blood sugar levels are elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels control weight and reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
Include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products as well as legumes, beans and beans are great choices. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may also be able to reduce the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks are usually high in sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may suggest diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in a normal range. These medications are often combined with changes in lifestyle, like exercise and diet to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar is not being adequately controlled with one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor will help you choose the best medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose inhibitors that lower blood sugar, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and lower the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.