Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It happens 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 can be treated and avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It’s important to be aware of symptoms to determine the signs of a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to make it work properly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels are excessively high over time. This can cause problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also cause damage to your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition and means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. The destruction can happen over months or even for years, eventually resulting in an absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust their 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 isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which is then used as energy.
People with type 2 diabetes must treat their condition through a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
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 more likely to develop complications, like heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your blood and kidneys are unable to eliminate it.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This usually happens because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently experience thirst and require to drink large amounts of fluids. This can be up to 4 liters a day.
Men can also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your condition. It can help control blood sugar levels control weight and reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
It is important to 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) fats and added sugars.
You might consider limiting your consumption of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks usually contain lots of sugar, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled on one medicine another medicine could be added. Your doctor will guide you to pick the best medication for your preferences and needs.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and are available in tablet and injection forms.