Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition which affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is also essential to be aware of 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 turns food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t utilize it correctly.
The blood sugar levels rise as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. This process can take many years or months until it eventually leads to an inability to produce insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activities to maintain their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not utilize insulin in the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races and ethnicities age, genders, and ages. Women are at greater risk than males.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience complications, like heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for diabetes in women. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your blood, and your kidneys cannot eliminate it.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
In diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. Your body will then try to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and they have to drink a lot of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss since their muscles are broken down by their bodies 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
A balanced diet for diabetes is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole food items in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products such as beans, legumes, and beans are excellent choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may need to limit your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks usually contain lots of sugar and can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within normal levels. These drugs are often paired with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being adequately controlled with one medication, you might require a second medication. Your doctor will assist you to determine the best medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and come in both tablet and injection forms.