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 when it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can all help in preventing or delaying the onset of the disease. It’s also important to be aware of the symptoms to know whether something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects how your body turns food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or fails to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies are unable to use it effectively.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels can become excessively high over time. This can lead to problems with the eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also damage your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder and means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The destruction can take place over several years or even decades and eventually lead to a total lack of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their food, insulin and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They might also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. However women are at a higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to develop complications, including heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of women with diabetes is a rise in thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in your blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to get rid of it in a proper manner.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is usually due to the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This results in high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty and require 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 the blood sugar level stays high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help control blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole food items, including fruits whole grains, vegetables beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may also be able to reduce the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks usually contain high levels of sugar and can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are usually combined with lifestyle changes, like physical activity and diet, to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed on one medication it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will work with you to pick the best medicine for your needs and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose inhibitors that lower blood sugar levels, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.