Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions each year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It is also important to recognize the signs to determine if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health issue that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, or fails to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it correctly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can lead to problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also harm the coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. This process can take many years or months until it eventually leads to a total lack of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics need to take insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it is used as energy.
People with type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition by eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. They might also need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects all races and ethnicities as well as ages and genders. However women are at a higher risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to experience complications, including heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of diabetes in women is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to remove it properly.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This causes elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids. It can be as much as 4 liters a day.
Men may also lose weight as their bodies rely on muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods like fruits vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may consider limiting your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks often have high levels of sugar in them and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in normal levels. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed on one medication it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will assist you to choose the most appropriate medicine for your needs and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, offer kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablets and injections.