Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when the body does not produce enough insulin, or fails to make use of the insulin it has effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It is also crucial to know the symptoms, so you can identify whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting) that alters the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or is unable to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t utilize it correctly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can cause problems in the feet, eyes and kidneys. It could also harm your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder and means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. This destruction can happen over months or even years, eventually leading to the total absence of insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their the insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t producing 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 as energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They might also need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races and ethnicities, ages, and genders. However women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to develop complications, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of women suffering from diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood, and the kidneys aren’t able eliminate it properly.
Men with diabetes Men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This is typically because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body will then attempt to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and they have to drink a lot of fluids.
Men also may lose weight since their bodies make use of muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, including fruits whole grains, vegetables beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might also want to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks typically contain lots of sugar which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within the normal range. These drugs are often paired with lifestyle changes, like physical activity and diet, to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t controlled on one medicine it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor can help you determine the most appropriate medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the chance of developing complications. They also help with weight loss, and come in both tablets and injections.