Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help to prevent or delay the progression of the disease. It is important to understand the symptoms so you can determine whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to use it properly.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or are unable to use it in a proper way.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels can become too high in time. This can cause problems in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. It may also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The process of destruction can last for months or even years and eventually lead to the total absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood glucose levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races as well as ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. Women are more susceptible than males.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One of the first signs of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in your blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to filter it out properly.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is typically because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This results in elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
People who have diabetes often are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids, up to 4 liters a day.
Men may also shed weight as their bodies rely on muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is an important part of managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Include whole foods in your diet, like 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 low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might consider limiting your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain a lot of sugar in them that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in normal levels. These medications are typically combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as physical activity and diet, to help manage 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, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the chance of developing complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.