Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It happens when the body is unable to produce enough insulin, or fails to utilize the insulin it has effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the progression of the disease. It is also important to be aware of the signs, so you can identify whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that alters the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops making enough insulin, or fails to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels rise as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. It can also harm the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, meaning that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. The destruction can take place over many years or months, eventually leading to the total absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust food, insulin and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2, your body is not using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it is utilized to generate energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition through a healthy diet and regular exercise. They might also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
It is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are more prone to develop complications, like heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of women with diabetes is a rise in thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to remove it effectively.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes, cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This leads to high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and they have to drink plenty of fluids.
Men also may lose weight because their bodies utilize muscle for energy rather than fat. This is because blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, reduce your weight and risk factors for heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are good choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might want to limit your intake of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks typically contain lots of sugar that can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes like exercising and diet to help control your diabetes.
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 most appropriate medicine for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medications like glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, provide cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablets and injections.