Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the onset of the disease. It is important to recognize the signs to determine whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body transforms food into energy. It happens when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or fails to use it properly.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t use it properly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels are too high in time. This can lead to problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. This destruction can occur over months or even years before resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes all 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 normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t 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 where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers need to treat their diabetes with a healthy diet and exercise. They might also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of diabetes in women is increased thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood and the kidneys aren’t able get rid of it in a proper manner.
The signs of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This usually happens because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body will then attempt to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss since their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy, instead of fat. This is because blood sugar levels are elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is an important part of managing your condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks usually contain lots of sugar in them that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within the normal range. These medications are often combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as diet and physical activity, to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels are not well controlled with one medication, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will guide you to determine the most appropriate medicine for your preferences and needs.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and offer 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 they come in both tablet and injection forms.