Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness which affects millions of people every year. It happens when the body does not make enough insulin or use the insulin that it has effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help to prevent or delay the onset of the disease. It is important to be aware of the signs, to determine whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or isn’t able to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies are unable to use it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels rise with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause issues with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It may also damage your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. This process can take months or even years, eventually leading to the total absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics need to take insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activity levels to maintain their blood sugar within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers need to treat their diabetes by consuming a balanced diet and regular exercise. They might also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races and ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, such as heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women suffering from diabetes. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your bloodstream and your kidneys are not able to remove it.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This causes elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and they have to drink lots of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle to make 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 diet for diabetes is a key element in managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight, and lower heart disease risk factors.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole food items, including fruits vegetables, whole grains beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks typically contain a lot of sugar in them and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within normal levels. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes, such as diet and physical activity, to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being adequately controlled with one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor can help you choose the best medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss, and they come in both tablets and injections.