Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It happens when the body is unable to produce enough insulin, or fails to use the insulin that it has effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help to prevent or delay the development of the disease. It is also crucial to be aware of the signs, to determine whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to use it correctly.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or their bodies don’t use it properly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels get excessively high over time. This can cause problems with the eyes, feet, and kidneys. It may also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition which means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside 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 need to take insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar in the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body does not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater likelihood of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of women suffering from diabetes is a higher thirst and increased the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys are not able to eliminate it.
Men with diabetes Men: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is usually due to the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body will then try to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss because their bodies break down muscle for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight, and lower risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole food items in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are great choices. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might also want to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks are typically packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes, like eating habits and physical activity to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar is not being managed well with one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to determine the most appropriate medication for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.