Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people each year. It happens when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or use the insulin that it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and can be prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medications. It is also essential to be aware of the symptoms so you can tell if something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or fails to use it properly.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or are unable to use it effectively.
The blood sugar levels increase as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It could also harm your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease, meaning that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The destruction can take place over months or years before eventually resulting in an inability to produce insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for 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 keep their blood sugar in the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers must treat their condition with a healthy diet and exercise. They may also have to take medication to regulate their blood glucose levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
It is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to experience complications, like heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One of the first signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your bloodstream and your kidneys are not able to eliminate it.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
In the case of diabetes it is when cells are unable 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. Your body will then attempt to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and they have to drink plenty of fluids.
Men also may shed weight as their bodies use muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels are high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are great choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks are usually high in sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are often combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as exercise and diet to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being adequately controlled with one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to select the most appropriate medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.