Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness which affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the disease. It is also important to understand the symptoms so you can determine whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting), which impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or fails to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to make it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels rise with time in both forms of diabetes. This can lead to problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also cause damage to the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. This process can take many years or months until it eventually leads to the complete absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics must take insulin each day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar levels within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t producing insulin as it should. 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 to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
It is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are more at risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a higher likelihood of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One early warning sign of women with diabetes is a rise in thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in your blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to remove it properly.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
In diabetes the cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes typically have a thirsty feeling and must drink large quantities of fluids, up to four liters daily.
Men can also shed weight as their bodies rely on muscle for energy rather than 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 an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce heart disease risk factors.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, such as fruits, whole grains, vegetables, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks are usually packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in the normal range. These medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, like physical activity and diet, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well managed on one medication it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will help you select the right medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.