Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and can be prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms so you can tell the signs of a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas stops making enough insulin or can’t use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it properly.
The blood sugar levels increase as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. The destruction can take place over months or even years, eventually resulting in a complete lack of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics must take insulin each day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activities to keep their blood sugar in a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used to create energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition by consuming a balanced diet and exercise. They may also have to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnic groups, ages, and genders. However women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are more prone to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your blood and your kidneys are not able to remove it.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body attempts to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty and require to drink plenty of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss since their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy, instead of fat. This is because blood sugar levels stay elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet is a crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight, and lower the risk of developing heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may also want to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks usually contain lots of sugar in them and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically combined with changes in lifestyle, like diet and physical activity, to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being controlled by one medicine, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to determine the most appropriate medicine for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the chance of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss, and they come in both tablet and injection forms.