Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people each year. It occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot use the insulin that it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the progression of the disease. It’s important to be aware of symptoms to determine whether something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or fails to properly use it.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t utilize it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels get excessively high over time. This can cause problems with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It could also harm your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. This process can last for months or even for years, eventually resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activities to keep their blood sugar in an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes by eating a balanced diet and exercise. They also may need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
It is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to develop complications, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One early warning sign of diabetes in women is a rise in thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the bloodstream and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to eliminate it effectively.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This causes elevated blood sugar levels. Your body will then attempt to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and they need to drink lots of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss because their muscles are broken down by their bodies 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 can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may consider limiting your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks often have lots of sugar in them and can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These medications are typically combined with changes in lifestyle, like eating habits and physical activity to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being adequately controlled with one medication, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will assist you to determine the most appropriate medication to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and lower the risk of complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.