Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness 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 produce effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can aid in preventing or reducing the onset of the disease. It is also essential to be aware of the symptoms so you can tell if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels rise as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems with the eyes, feet, and kidneys. It may also damage your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. This process can last for months or even years before resulting in a complete lack of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activities to maintain their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t using 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 is used to create energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition through a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races and ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. Women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience complications, including heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One of the first signs of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to eliminate it correctly.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is typically because the pancreas stops producing enough 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 via urine.
Patients with diabetes typically are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids. This can be up to 4 liters a day.
Men may also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, control your weight, and reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods, such as fruits whole grains, vegetables beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may want to limit your intake of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks often have a lot of sugar in them that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in the normal range. These drugs are often paired with changes in lifestyle, like diet and physical activity, to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t managed on one medication it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will work with you to choose the most appropriate medication to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the risk of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.