Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it’s not able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and can be avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is important to recognize the signs so you can tell if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or isn’t able to use it correctly.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it work properly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels can become too high in time. This can cause problems with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder, meaning that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. The destruction can take place over many months or even years and eventually lead to a complete lack of insulin.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes all day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which is then utilized to generate energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition with a healthy diet and exercise. They may also have to take medication to regulate their blood glucose levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the first signs of women suffering from diabetes is increased thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to remove it properly.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and need to drink a lot of fluids.
The men may also lose weight because their bodies rely on muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, including fruits whole grains, vegetables as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may need to limit your consumption of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks are often packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in a normal range. These medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, such as physical activity and diet, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t controlled by one medicine another medicine could be added. Your doctor will work with you to pick the most appropriate medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose inhibitors that lower blood sugar levels, offer kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.