Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease which affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help prevent or delay the development of the disease. It is also important to understand the symptoms so you can determine whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting) that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it work properly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels can become too high over time. This can lead to issues in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It could also harm your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease and means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The destruction can happen over months or even years, eventually resulting in an absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activities to keep their blood sugar in an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which can then be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races and ethnicities as well as ages and genders. Women are more at risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One early warning sign of women suffering from diabetes is a rise in thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood and your kidneys aren’t able to remove it properly.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is usually due to the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids, up to four liters per day.
Men can also experience weight loss since their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is an important part of managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce heart disease risk factors.
Include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are good choices. 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 usually packed with sugar and can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes such as exercising and diet to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being adequately controlled with one medication, you might need to take a different medication. Your doctor will guide you to pick the best medication for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.