Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it’s not able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is also essential to know the symptoms, so you can tell whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting) that alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or isn’t able to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies cannot use it correctly.
The blood sugar levels increase with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause problems in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. It may also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your 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 process can take many years or months and eventually lead to the total 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 the insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which can then be utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also have to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
It is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are more susceptible than males.
Women with diabetes are more likely to develop complications, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes), and vision loss.
One of the first signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your blood and kidneys are unable to remove it.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes is a condition where cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is typically because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. The body then attempts to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and they need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is because their blood sugar levels remain high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar, reduce your weight and the risk of developing heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are excellent choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might need to limit your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks often have high levels of sugar in them which can result in elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These drugs are often paired with changes in lifestyle, like diet and physical activity, to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t managed on one medication, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will work with you to pick the most appropriate medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, provide cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.