Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, or fails to use the insulin that it produces effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medications. It is also essential to understand the symptoms so you can determine whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting) that impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t use it properly.
The blood sugar levels increase with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause problems in the feet, eyes and kidneys. It could also harm the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease which means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. The process of destruction can last for months or even years before 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 to keep their blood sugar in the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races as well as ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. Women are at greater risk than males.
Women with diabetes are more likely to develop complications, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women suffering from diabetes. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t able to filter it out correctly.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is usually because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This leads to high blood sugar levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and they need to drink lots of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss as their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy, instead of fat. This is because blood sugar levels remain high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are great choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may want to limit your intake of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks are typically packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might recommend diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within normal levels. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes like exercising and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t controlled by one medicine then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will help you choose the best medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and lower the risk of complications. They also help with weight loss, and come in both tablet and injection forms.