Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medication. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell whether something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting) that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or their bodies don’t use it properly.
The blood sugar levels rise with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause problems in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also cause damage to your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. The destruction can take place over months or even years and eventually lead to a total lack of insulin.
Insulin is required by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2, your body is not producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used for energy.
People with type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition through a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
One early warning sign of women with diabetes is a rise in thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the bloodstream and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to get rid of it correctly.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is typically because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body will then attempt to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes frequently have a thirsty feeling and must drink large amounts of fluids, up to four liters a day.
Men can also lose weight since their bodies make use of muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, reduce your weight and heart disease risk factors.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods like fruits whole grains, vegetables, beans and low-fat dairy. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might consider limiting your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain a lot of sugar, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within a normal range. These drugs are often paired with changes to your lifestyle, such as exercise and diet to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar is not being adequately controlled with one medicine, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will help you select the right medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications like glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss, and they come in both tablets and injections.