Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness which affects millions of people every year. It occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot make use of the insulin it has effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can aid in preventing or reducing the progression of the disease. It’s important to be aware of symptoms so you can tell what’s wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. 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 disease and means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. This process can last for months or even for years before resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
People suffering from 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 activity levels to keep 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 hormonal substance that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which is then used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects all races and ethnic groups, ages, and genders. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to develop complications, such as heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes), and vision loss.
One early warning sign of diabetes in women is increased thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to eliminate it properly.
The signs of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition where cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This usually happens because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and they need to drink a lot of fluids.
The men may also lose weight as their bodies use muscle for energy rather than fat. This is because blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce heart disease risk factors.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, such as fruits vegetables, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may also want to limit the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks typically contain lots of sugar in them and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in a normal range. These medications are typically combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as physical activity and diet, to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels are not being adequately controlled with one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to select the most appropriate medication for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the chance of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.