Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that is affecting millions of people each year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and can be prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It is also essential to be aware of symptoms to determine if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it properly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause issues with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
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. This destruction can happen over several years or even decades and eventually lead to a total lack of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics 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 in the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and eat a balanced diet. They also may need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects all races and ethnicities as well as ages and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your bloodstream and kidneys can’t filter it out.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is usually due to the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This results in elevated blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty and require to drink lots of fluids.
The men may also shed weight as their bodies utilize muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a vital aspect of managing your condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products such as beans, legumes, and beans are a good choice. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may also consider limiting the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks are often packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in the normal range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes such as eating habits and exercise to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being adequately controlled with one medication, you might need to take a different medication. Your doctor will help you pick the best medication for your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of developing complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.