Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It occurs because the body doesn’t make enough insulin or utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and can be prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms to determine if something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting) that impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels increase as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It could also cause damage to coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition which means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This process can last for months or even for years before resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also need to take medications to control their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are more at risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to develop complications, including heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the first signs of women suffering from diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to eliminate it correctly.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
In diabetes, cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood sugar levels. Your body will then try to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and need to drink lots of fluids.
The men may also lose weight since their bodies rely on muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels stay elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar, manage your weight, and lower the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
You should include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products as well as legumes, beans and beans are excellent choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may also want to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks often have a lot of sugar that can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may recommend diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes such as exercising and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled on one medicine it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will assist you to select the most appropriate medication to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the chance of developing complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.