Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that is affecting 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.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the development of the disease. It’s important to be aware of symptoms to know whether something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health issue that affects how your body transforms food into energy. It happens when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or fails to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t utilize it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get excessively high over time. This can lead to problems with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It may also damage your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. This process can last for several months or even years before resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activities to keep their blood sugar within the normal 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 which helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used to create energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes by consuming a balanced diet and exercise. They may also have to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk likelihood of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women who suffer from diabetes. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t able to eliminate it properly.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
In diabetes the cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood sugar levels. Your body then attempts to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes typically experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids, up to four liters a day.
The men may also lose weight as their bodies use muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may consider limiting your consumption of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks are often high in sugar which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within normal levels. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes, such as exercising and diet to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled by one medicine it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will guide you to determine the most appropriate medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, 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.