Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions each year. It is caused when the body is unable to make enough insulin or make use of the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help prevent or delay the development of the disease. It is also essential to know the symptoms, to determine whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting) that alters how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or fails to properly use it.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it properly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels become too high over time. This can lead to issues in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also harm the arteries in your heart 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. The destruction can happen over several months or even years, eventually 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 exercise to maintain their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be utilized to generate energy.
People with type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition by eating a balanced diet and exercise. They may also need to take medication to control their blood glucose levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races, ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. Women are more at risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for women suffering from diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to filter it out in a proper manner.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
In diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels stay high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar, control your weight, and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
You should include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are a good choice. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may also consider limiting the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks typically contain high levels of sugar and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These medications are usually combined with changes in lifestyle, like exercise and diet to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled by one medicine another medicine could be added. Your doctor will assist you to choose the most appropriate medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.