Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and can be prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is also essential to know the symptoms, so you can tell whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting) that impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing 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 known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or their bodies are unable to use it in a proper way.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels can become too high in time. This can lead to problems with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also cause damage to the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. The process of destruction can last for many years or months before eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes all 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 normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body may not utilize insulin in the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that 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 may also need to take medications to control their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
It is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in your blood and your kidneys aren’t able to remove it correctly.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes typically have a thirsty feeling and must drink large amounts of fluids, as much as four liters a day.
The men may also lose weight since their bodies use muscle for energy rather than fat. This is because blood sugar levels are high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help control blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might also consider limiting the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks usually contain lots of sugar in them, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may recommend diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes such as eating habits and exercise to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not well controlled with one medicine, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will help you determine the most appropriate medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and they come in both tablets and injections.