Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and can be avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is also important to know the symptoms, 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 transforms food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to properly use it.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to make it work properly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause issues with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also damage your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder and means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. The destruction can happen over months or even years and eventually lead to a complete lack of insulin.
People suffering from 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 levels of activity to maintain their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes the body does 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 diabetes sufferers need to treat their diabetes by eating a balanced diet and exercise. 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 people of all races and ethnicities as well as ages 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 frequent diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t able to get rid of it in a proper manner.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes frequently are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids, up to four liters daily.
Men may also lose weight since their bodies rely on muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight, and lower the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may consider limiting your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks are usually packed with sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as diet and physical activity, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t managed by one medication it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will work with you to select the best medicine for your needs and preferences.
The latest medications, including 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, as well as reducing the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.