Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that 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 medications can all help in preventing or delaying the onset of the disease. It’s also important to be aware of the symptoms so you can tell what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that alters the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to properly use it.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels become too high in time. This can cause problems with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It may also cause damage to the arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. The destruction can take place over months or years before eventually resulting in the total absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics must take insulin each day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust the levels of 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 utilize insulin in the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers need to treat their condition with a healthy diet and exercise. They also may need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnic groups age, genders, and ages. Women are more at risk than males.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and vision loss.
One of the first signs of diabetes in women is a rise in thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your bloodstream, and your kidneys cannot remove it.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body tries to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty and require to drink lots of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, such as fruits whole grains, vegetables as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might want to limit your intake of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks are often high in sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed by one medication, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will work with you to determine the best medication for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the risk of complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.