Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people each year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it’s not able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms to be able to tell what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting) that alters the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or is unable to properly use it.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it properly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels get too high in time. This can lead to problems with your feet, eyes, and kidneys. It can also damage your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. The destruction can take place over several months or even years before resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not utilize insulin in the way 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 for energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers need to treat their diabetes by eating a balanced diet and exercise. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. However, women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and vision loss.
One early warning sign of diabetes in women is increased thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your bloodstream and kidneys can’t remove it.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
In diabetes it is when cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is usually due to the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This results in high blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and they have to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can also lose weight as their bodies utilize muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors for heart diseases.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products and legumes are a good choice. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may also need to limit the amount of sweetened drinks with 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 medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These drugs are often paired with changes in lifestyle, like diet and physical activity, to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed on one medication, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will assist you to pick the most appropriate medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.