Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can all help in preventing or delaying the development of the disease. It is also crucial to understand the symptoms to determine if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting) that alters the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or isn’t able to use it properly.
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 aren’t able to utilize it effectively.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can cause problems in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. This process can take months or even years until it eventually leads to a total lack of insulin.
Insulin is required by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each 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 healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which is then used to create energy.
People with type 2 diabetes must treat their condition with a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
It is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to develop complications, like heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your blood and kidneys can’t filter it out.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This leads to high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids, as much as four liters a day.
Men may also lose weight because their bodies make use of muscle for energy rather than fat. This is because blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar, reduce your weight and the risk of developing heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may need to limit your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks usually contain a lot of sugar in them and can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are often combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as exercise and diet to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed by one medication it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor can help you select the right medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.