Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and can be prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is also crucial to recognize the signs to determine if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting), which affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or fails to use it properly.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t use it properly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels can become too high over time. This can cause problems in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also harm the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. This destruction can happen over many years or months before eventually resulting in an inability to produce insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They must also monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable 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 assists your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers have to manage their condition by consuming a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also have to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races and ethnic groups age, genders, and ages. Women are more at risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience complications, like heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related 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 the bloodstream and the kidneys aren’t able eliminate it properly.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
In diabetes the cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This results in high blood sugar levels. Your body will then attempt to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and they need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men can also lose weight as their bodies use muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is an important part of managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight, and lower heart disease risk factors.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might consider limiting your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks often have a lot of sugar and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, like physical activity and diet, to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed on one medication then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will guide you to choose the best medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the risk of developing complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.