Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the development of the disease. It is important to know the symptoms, so you can identify whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting) that alters the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it in a proper way.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels can become excessively high over time. This can cause issues with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also damage your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition which means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. The destruction can take place over many months or even years and eventually lead to the absence of insulin completely.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They also must monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their the insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and eat a healthy diet. They might also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are more at risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a greater chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your bloodstream and kidneys can’t filter it out.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood sugar levels. The body tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People who have diabetes often are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids, as much as four liters per day.
Men may also lose weight as their bodies utilize muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a key element in managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might need to limit your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks are usually packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being adequately controlled with one medicine, you may require a second medication. Your doctor can help you choose the best medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the risk of developing complications. They are also useful for weight loss and are available in tablet and injection forms.