Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition which affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and can be treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medication. It is also crucial to understand the symptoms so you can identify whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or is unable to use it properly.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin, or their bodies cannot use it properly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels are too high over time. This can cause problems with your feet, eyes, and kidneys. It could also cause damage to arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. The process of destruction can last for several years or even decades and eventually lead to the total absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body does not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also have to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
It 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, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One early warning sign of women with diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urination, called polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to remove it in a proper manner.
The signs of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This leads to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes frequently experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids. This can be up to four liters per day.
Men may be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels are high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar, manage your weight, and lower the risk of developing heart disease.
Include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products as well as legumes, beans and beans are a good choice. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may also need to limit the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks are typically packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within the normal range. These medications are usually combined with changes in lifestyle, like exercise and diet to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being managed well with one medication, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will assist you determine the most appropriate medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the chance of developing complications. They also help with weight loss, and are available in tablet and injection forms.