Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help prevent or delay the disease. It is important to know the symptoms, so you can identify whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects how your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, or fails to use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t utilize it correctly.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can cause issues with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It may also cause damage to the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. The destruction can happen over months or even for years, eventually resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
Type 1 diabetics require insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used for energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition with a healthy diet and exercise. They may also have to take medication to regulate their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races as well as ethnic groups, ages, and genders. However women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women suffering from diabetes. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your blood and kidneys can’t remove it.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
In diabetes it is when cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty and require to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a key element in managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
You should include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are excellent choices. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might also want to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks are often packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within a normal range. These medications are usually combined with changes in lifestyle, like eating habits and physical activity to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled by one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will assist you to select the best medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss, and they are available in tablet and injection forms.