Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It is also essential to be aware of symptoms so you can tell what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to properly use it.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it properly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels are too high over time. This can cause issues with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It may also damage your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, meaning that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. This process can last for months or even for years, eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics need to take insulin every day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust food, insulin and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within a healthy 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 assists your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication 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 males.
Women with diabetes are more likely to develop complications, such as heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes), and vision loss.
One of the early signs of diabetes in women is a rise in thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood, and the kidneys aren’t able remove it correctly.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is usually 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 via urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty and require to drink lots of fluids.
Men can be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help control blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
You should include whole food items in your diet, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products as well as legumes, beans and beans are a good choice. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might want to limit your intake of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks often have lots of sugar in them that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being adequately controlled with one medicine, you may require a second medication. Your doctor can help you pick the best medication for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and lower the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.