Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people every year. It happens when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or use the insulin that it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help to prevent or delay the disease. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to determine if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or fails to use it correctly.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it in a proper way.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels are too high in time. This can cause issues with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also cause damage to your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition which means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. This destruction can happen over months or years, eventually leading to the total absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it is used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects all races as well as ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. Women are more at risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes), and vision loss.
One early warning sign of women with diabetes is increased thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your bloodstream and your kidneys are not able to eliminate it.
The signs of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This usually happens because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large quantities of fluids, as much as 4 liters a day.
Men can also experience weight loss as their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels are high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a vital aspect of managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
You should include whole food items in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products such as beans, legumes, and beans are great choices. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may need to limit your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks are often high in sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, like exercise and diet to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar is not being controlled by one medication, you might require a second medication. Your doctor can help you select the right medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the chance of developing complications. They are also useful for weight loss and are available in tablet and injection forms.