Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It happens when the body does not make enough insulin or make use of the insulin it has effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the disease. It is also essential to know the symptoms, so you can tell whether you are suffering from a condition 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 the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or fails to use it correctly.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels get excessively high over time. This can lead to problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It may also cause damage to the arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition which means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. This process can last for many months or even years, eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes by consuming a balanced diet and exercise. They may also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater likelihood of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One of the first signs of women suffering from diabetes is a higher thirst and increased the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your bloodstream and your kidneys are not able to eliminate it.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
In diabetes the cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This usually happens because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body attempts to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids. This can be up to four liters a day.
Men may 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 prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce heart disease risk factors.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may consider limiting your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being managed well with one medication, you might need to take a different medication. Your doctor will work with you to determine the most appropriate medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the chance of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.