Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that is affecting millions of people each year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help to prevent or delay the disease. It’s important to be aware of symptoms so you can tell if something is 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 the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or fails to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to make it in a proper way.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels can become excessively high over time. This can lead to issues with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. This process can take many years or months and eventually lead to the total absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They must also monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body does not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys aren’t able to get rid of it in a proper manner.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In diabetes the cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body will then try to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty and require to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
You should include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products as well as legumes, beans and beans are a good choice. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might be advised to limit your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks usually contain high levels of sugar in them, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in normal levels. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled by one medicine then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will help you choose the best medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.