Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that is affecting millions of people each year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it’s not able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It is also important to recognize the signs so you can determine whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it work properly.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels become too high in time. This can cause issues with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It could also harm your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. This destruction can happen over months or years before eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activity levels to keep their blood sugar levels within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t functioning as insulin should. 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 for energy.
People with type 2 diabetes must treat their condition by eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also have to take medication to regulate their blood glucose levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. However women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to develop complications, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes), and vision loss.
One of the early signs of women suffering from diabetes is increased thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood and your kidneys aren’t able to filter it out in a proper manner.
Men with diabetes Men: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and they need to drink lots 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 levels stay high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help manage blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
Include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products as well as legumes, beans and beans are excellent choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks usually contain a lot of sugar, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might recommend diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within a normal range. These medications are usually combined with lifestyle changes, such as eating habits and physical activity to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t controlled on one medicine it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will assist you to determine the best medication to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss, and they come in both tablets and injections.