Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions each year. It happens when the body fails to produce enough insulin or cannot utilize the insulin it produces effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and can be treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medication. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting) that alters the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas stops making enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or aren’t able to use it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels rise with time in both forms of diabetes. This can lead to problems in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It may also cause damage to the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. This destruction can occur over several months or even years before resulting in an absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes every day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust the insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t utilize insulin in the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also have to take medications to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are more at risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for women with 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 properly.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This usually happens because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This results in elevated blood sugar levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently have a thirsty feeling and must drink large amounts of fluids. This can be up to 4 liters a day.
Men may be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a key element in managing your condition. It can help control blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods like fruits, whole grains, vegetables as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may also want to limit the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks are often packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes like exercise and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled by one medicine another medicine could be added. Your doctor will assist you to select the best medicine for your specific needs and preferences.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and offer 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 tablet and injectable forms.