Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that is affecting millions of people each year. It is caused when the body fails to produce enough insulin, or fails to make use of the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and 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 a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or their bodies cannot use it properly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels get too high over time. This can cause issues in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, meaning that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. The destruction can take place over months or even years and eventually lead to an inability to produce insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar in an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes the body does not utilize insulin in the way 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 have to exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood glucose levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races, ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. Women are more at risk than males.
Women with diabetes are more likely to develop complications, like heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to filter it out properly.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In diabetes it is when cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This results in elevated blood sugar levels. Your body will then attempt to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes typically experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids. This can be up to 4 liters a day.
The men may also lose weight because their bodies make use of muscle for energy rather than 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 is a crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products such as beans, legumes, and beans are a good choice. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might be advised to limit your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain lots of sugar, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes such as eating habits and exercise to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not well controlled with one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor will assist you to pick the most appropriate medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.