Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition which affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help to prevent or delay the progression of the disease. It’s important to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell whether something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or is unable to use it correctly.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it effectively.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can cause issues with the eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also damage your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. The destruction can take place over several years or even decades before eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes every day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps 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 eat a healthy diet. They also may need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are more at risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to suffer from complications, including heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your bloodstream and your kidneys are not able to remove it.
The signs of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition where cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This results in high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large quantities of fluids, up to four liters a day.
Men also may lose weight as their bodies make use of 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
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar, control your weight, and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products as well as legumes, beans and beans are a good choice. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might consider limiting your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks are often high in sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes, such as eating habits and exercise to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled on one medicine another medicine could be added. Your doctor will help you choose the best medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the chance of developing complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.