Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that is affecting millions of people each year. It is caused when the body fails to make enough insulin or use the insulin that it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is also essential to be aware of the symptoms to determine whether something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting), which impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or fails to use it correctly.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it properly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels get too high over time. This can lead to problems with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also harm the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. The process of destruction can last for months or years, eventually leading to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which is then utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and follow 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 at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the bloodstream and your kidneys aren’t able to filter it out properly.
The signs of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is typically because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This results in high blood sugar levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids, up to four liters daily.
The men may also shed weight as their bodies utilize muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels control weight and reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, such as fruits vegetables, whole grains beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may also need to limit the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks often have plenty of sugar that can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled on one medicine then a second medication could be added. Your doctor can help you determine the most appropriate medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
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 chance of developing complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and they come in both tablet and injection forms.