Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people each year. It happens when the body is unable to produce enough insulin, or fails to make use of the insulin it has effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and can be prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It is important to understand the symptoms so you can determine whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas stops making enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or their bodies don’t utilize it correctly.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels become excessively high over time. This can cause issues with your feet, eyes, and kidneys. It can also damage 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 in the pancreas. The destruction can take place over many months or even years until it leads to the absence of insulin completely.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of exercise to maintain their blood sugar within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t utilize insulin in the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used as energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition with a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races, ethnic groups, ages, and genders. However women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, including heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of women suffering from diabetes is a rise in thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your blood and kidneys can’t filter it out.
Diabetes in men Men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This is usually because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes frequently are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids. This can be up to four liters a day.
Men can also shed weight as their bodies use muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods, including fruits vegetables, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may also be able to reduce the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks often have high levels of sugar which can result in elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in a normal range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being adequately controlled with one medication, you might need to take a different medication. Your doctor will assist you to choose the most appropriate medicine for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the chance of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and come in both tablets and injections.