Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people every year. It happens when the body fails to make enough insulin or make use of the insulin it produces effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the progression of the disease. It is also important to know the symptoms, to determine if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or fails to properly use it.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or are unable to use it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels become too high in time. This can cause problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It could also cause damage to coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is 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 several months or even years until it leads to a complete lack of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics 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 use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and eat a healthy diet. They might also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for diabetes in women. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in your blood and the kidneys aren’t able remove it effectively.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This results in elevated blood sugar levels. Your body will then try to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes frequently have a thirsty feeling and must drink large amounts of fluids, as much as four liters per day.
The men may also lose weight as their bodies utilize muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help manage blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, such as fruits whole grains, vegetables beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might also consider limiting the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks often have high levels of sugar that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are often combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as exercise and diet to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar is not being adequately controlled with one medicine, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will assist you to pick the most appropriate medicine for your 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 levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the risk of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.