Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that is affecting millions of people each year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the development of the disease. It’s also important to be aware of the symptoms to determine whether something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or isn’t able 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 properly.
The blood sugar levels increase as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also damage the arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. The process of destruction can last for several years or even decades, eventually leading to a total lack of insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people with type 1 diabetes all day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within the healthy 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 as energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to experience complications, like heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes), and vision loss.
One of the first signs of women suffering from diabetes is increased thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your bloodstream and kidneys are unable to remove it.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This usually happens because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This results in high blood sugar levels. Your body will then attempt to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men may 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 level remains high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, control your weight, and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, including fruits vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might consider limiting your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks are usually high in sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well managed on one medication it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will work with you to determine the best medication for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the chance of developing complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.