Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that is affecting millions of people each year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to know whether something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops making enough insulin, or fails to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies are unable to use it effectively.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get too high in time. This can cause problems with your feet, eyes and kidneys. It may also cause damage to the arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. This process can take months or even years, eventually leading to the total absence of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within 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 which helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used as energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes by consuming a balanced diet and regular exercise. They might also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races as well as ethnic groups as well as 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 higher thirst and increased urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your bloodstream and your kidneys are not able to remove it.
Diabetes in men Men: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and they have to drink plenty of fluids.
Men also may lose weight because their bodies rely on muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, such as fruits vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may also consider limiting the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks are usually packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well managed by one medication, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will work with you to determine the most appropriate medicine for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.