Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the disease. It’s also crucial to be aware of the symptoms to be able to tell if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health issue that affects how your body turns food into energy. It happens when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or isn’t able to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies are unable to use it correctly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels become too high over time. This can cause issues with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. This process can take many years or months and eventually lead to a total lack of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activities to keep their blood sugar levels within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormonal substance that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which can then be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They also may need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a greater chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and vision loss.
One of the first signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your bloodstream and kidneys are unable to filter it out.
Men with diabetes Men: Symptoms
In diabetes, cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This usually happens because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. The body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People who have diabetes often are thirsty and have to drink large quantities of fluids. This can be up to four liters a day.
The men may also lose weight as their bodies use muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might want to limit your intake of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks are typically packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t managed on one medication, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will work with you to choose the most appropriate medicine for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, provide cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablets and injections.