Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease which affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it isn’t able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help to prevent or delay the onset of the disease. It is also essential to be aware of the symptoms to determine if something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects how your body transforms food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to use it properly.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or are unable to use it properly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels are too high in time. This can lead to issues in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. The destruction can take place over months or even years and eventually lead to a complete lack of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of activity to maintain their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t using 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 is used as energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes with a healthy diet and exercise. They might also need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
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 who suffer from diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes), and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of women suffering from diabetes is increased thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood, and the kidneys aren’t able get rid of it properly.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is usually because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This leads to high blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty and require to drink lots of fluids.
Men also may lose weight since their bodies use muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help control blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease risk factors for heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are great choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might need to limit your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks usually contain a lot of sugar that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes such as exercising and diet to help you manage your 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 assist you to choose the best medicine for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.