Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and can be prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medications. It is also essential to recognize the signs so you can determine whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas stops making enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or their bodies cannot use it effectively.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels are excessively high over time. This can lead to problems with the eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also damage your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This process can last for several months or even years, eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics must take insulin each day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within a healthy 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 in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it is used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They also may need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
It is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. However, women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of women with diabetes is a higher thirst and increased the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in your blood and the kidneys aren’t able get rid of it in a proper manner.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This is usually due to the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently 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 levels remain high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
Include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are great choices. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may also be able to reduce the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar in them and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically combined with changes in lifestyle, like eating habits and physical activity to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t managed by one medication it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will assist you to determine the most appropriate medicine for your needs and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.