Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It is also essential to recognize the signs so you can identify whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting) that alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin or aren’t able to use it correctly.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels are too high over time. This can lead to problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also damage your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. The process of destruction can last for many years or months until it eventually leads to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar levels within the healthy 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 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 need to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to regulate their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races as well as ethnic groups, ages, and genders. Women are more susceptible than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of women with diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the bloodstream and the kidneys aren’t able eliminate it in a proper manner.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
In diabetes the cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is typically because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle to make energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are good choices. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may also need to limit the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks typically contain high levels of sugar in them and can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within normal levels. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise to help control your diabetes.
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 will assist you determine the most appropriate medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of developing complications. They also help with weight loss, and they come in both tablet and injection forms.