Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness which affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it’s not able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medication. It is also important to understand the symptoms so you can determine whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body transforms food into energy. It happens when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or is unable to use it properly.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies are unable to use it properly.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get excessively high over time. This can lead to problems in the feet, eyes and kidneys. It may also damage your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. This destruction can occur over many months or even years and eventually lead to the complete absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar levels within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body does not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which can then be utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers need to treat their diabetes by eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races and ethnicities as well as ages and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for women with diabetes. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to get rid of it correctly.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
In diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is usually due to the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body will then attempt to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and they need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors for heart diseases.
Your diet should include plenty of whole food items, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might want to limit your intake of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks are usually packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These medications are usually combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as exercise and diet to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed on one medication another medicine could be added. Your doctor will assist you to pick the most appropriate medicine for your requirements and preferences.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and come in both tablet and injection forms.