Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It’s also crucial to be aware of the symptoms to determine the signs of a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health issue that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It happens when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or fails to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t utilize it correctly.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems with the eyes, feet and kidneys. It could also harm your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. This process can take months or years, eventually leading to an inability to produce insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also must monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their the insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes the body does not make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it is utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They might also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
It is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are more likely to develop complications, like heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood, and the kidneys aren’t able eliminate it correctly.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
In diabetes, cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. The body then attempts to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes frequently experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids, as much as 4 liters a day.
Men may also lose weight as their bodies rely on muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole food items, including fruits whole grains, vegetables beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may want to limit your intake of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks are usually packed with sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These drugs are often paired with lifestyle changes, like eating habits and physical activity to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t managed on one medication then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will assist you select the right medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss, and they are available in tablet and injection forms.