Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It occurs when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or use the insulin that it has effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help to prevent or delay the progression of the disease. It is also crucial to understand the symptoms so you can identify whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting), which impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to use it in a proper way.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels become excessively high over time. This can cause issues with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. The process of destruction can last for months or even years before eventually resulting in an inability to produce insulin.
Insulin is required by those 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 activities to maintain their blood sugar within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2, your body is not producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to regulate their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races and ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. However women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience 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 the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your blood and kidneys can’t filter it out.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes frequently are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids, up to four liters daily.
Men may also shed weight as their bodies utilize muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels control weight and reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may also be able to reduce the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks are usually packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within the normal range. These medications are often combined with changes in lifestyle, like eating habits and physical activity to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being controlled by one medication, you might require a second medication. Your doctor will assist you pick the best medication for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and come in both tablets and injections.