Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness which affects millions of people every year. It is caused when the body fails to produce enough insulin or cannot use the insulin that it produces effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medication. It is important to recognize the signs to determine if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health issue that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin or their bodies are unable to use it correctly.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels are too high over time. This can cause issues with your eyes, feet and kidneys. 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 insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. This process can take many years or months and eventually lead to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They also may need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater likelihood of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women who suffer from diabetes. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to get rid of it correctly.
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 is usually because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body will then try to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids, as much as 4 liters a day.
Men may also lose weight because their bodies utilize muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels are elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole food items in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products as well as legumes, beans and beans are excellent choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might also consider limiting the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks usually contain a lot of sugar and can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes such as eating habits and exercise to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not well controlled with one medication, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to select the most appropriate medication for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like 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 developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.