Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when the body fails to produce enough insulin or use the insulin that it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the onset of the disease. It is important to know the symptoms, so you can determine whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting) that alters how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops making enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin or their bodies don’t use it properly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get too high in time. This can cause issues in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder, meaning that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. The process of destruction can last for months or even years until it eventually leads to an inability to produce insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body may not make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used as energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition with a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also need 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, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are more susceptible than males.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women who suffer from diabetes. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in your blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to get rid of it effectively.
Men with diabetes Men: Symptoms
In diabetes it is when cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This leads to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body will then attempt to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty and require to drink plenty of fluids.
Men also may lose weight since their bodies utilize muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, reduce your weight and the risk of developing heart disease.
You should include whole food items in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products and legumes are good choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may be advised to limit your consumption of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks often have plenty of sugar in them and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These drugs are often paired with changes in lifestyle, like physical activity and diet, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled by one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will work with you to select the most appropriate medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, offer kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.