Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or make use of the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medications. It’s also crucial to be aware of the symptoms so you can tell whether something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting) that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops making enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t utilize it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels are too high in time. This can lead to problems with the eyes, feet and kidneys. It may also damage your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. The process of destruction can last for months or years and eventually lead to the total absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by those who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of exercise to maintain their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects all races and ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a greater likelihood of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for diabetes in women. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your bloodstream, and your kidneys cannot remove it.
The signs of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body will then attempt to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and they have to drink plenty of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss since 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
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar, reduce your weight and heart disease risk factors.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, such as fruits, whole grains, vegetables beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might want to limit your intake of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks usually contain a lot of sugar in them, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well managed by one medication, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will assist you pick the best medication for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.