Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that is affecting millions of people each year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help prevent or delay the progression of the disease. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell whether something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting), which alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or cannot use it properly.
The blood sugar levels rise with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause issues in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. It can also harm the coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. This destruction can happen over several years or even decades until it eventually leads to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes the body does not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also have to take medications to control their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races as well as ethnic groups, ages, and genders. Women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for diabetes in women. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t able to eliminate it in a proper manner.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
In diabetes the cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is usually due to the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body then attempts to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People who have diabetes often are thirsty and have to drink large quantities of fluids, as much as four liters per day.
Men may also lose weight because their bodies make use of muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels remain elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is an important part of managing your condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels control weight and reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
You should include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products and legumes are good choices. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might need to limit your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks are typically packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within normal levels. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes like eating habits and exercise to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t managed by one medication, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will help you select the right medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of developing complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and they are available in tablets and injections.