Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medication. It’s also crucial to be aware of the symptoms to know if something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting), which alters the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or fails to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it work properly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels become excessively high over time. This can cause issues with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It may also damage your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. The destruction can take place over many years or months until it eventually leads to the total absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body may not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnic groups, ages, and genders. Women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk likelihood of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the first signs of diabetes in women is increased thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood and the kidneys aren’t able get rid of it in a proper manner.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body will then attempt to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes typically feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids, as much as 4 liters a day.
The men may also lose weight because their bodies use muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a key element in managing your condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, including fruits whole grains, vegetables, beans and low-fat dairy. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might be advised to limit your consumption of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain lots of sugar and can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed on one medication, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will assist you determine the most appropriate medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and are available in tablet and injection forms.