Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It happens when the body fails to make enough insulin or use the insulin that it produces effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the progression of the disease. It is also important to be aware of the signs, so you can determine whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which alters the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or isn’t able to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels increase with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause issues in the feet, eyes and kidneys. It can also harm the 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 the insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. This destruction can happen over months or years before eventually resulting in a total lack of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their the insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used as energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes by consuming a balanced diet and exercise. They may also have to take medication to control their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects all races as well as ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. Women are at higher risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to experience complications, including heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes), and vision loss.
One early warning sign of diabetes in women is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the bloodstream and your kidneys aren’t able to get rid of it effectively.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition where cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then attempts to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People who have diabetes often feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids, up to four liters daily.
Men may also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is because their blood sugar levels stay high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce heart disease risk factors.
You should include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products and legumes are great choices. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might consider limiting your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain lots of sugar that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes like exercise and diet to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled on one medicine it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will assist you to choose the best medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They also help with weight loss, and they are available in tablet and injection forms.