Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that is affecting millions of people each year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it’s not able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the onset of the disease. It is important to be aware of the signs, so you can identify whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting) that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas stops making enough insulin, or fails to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it in a proper way.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels can become excessively high over time. This can cause issues with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder, meaning that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. This destruction can occur over months or even years before resulting in an absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics need to take insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2, your body is not making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and follow a healthy diet. They also may need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects all races and ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for women suffering from diabetes. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the bloodstream and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to get rid of it in a proper manner.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes is a condition where cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is usually due to the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This leads to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then attempts to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes typically experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids, as much as four liters daily.
Men can also experience weight loss as their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage your weight, and lower the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, including fruits vegetables, whole grains as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks are typically high in sugar and can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t managed on one medication another medicine could be added. Your doctor will assist you to choose the most appropriate medication for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medications like glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and are available in tablets and injections.