Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It is important to know the symptoms, to determine if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or are unable to use it properly.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems with your feet, eyes, and kidneys. It may also cause damage to the coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease, meaning that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. The destruction can take place over months or even years and eventually lead to an absence of insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used as energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes by eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. They also may need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
It is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of women suffering from diabetes is increased thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your blood and kidneys can’t remove it.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
In diabetes it is when cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. The body then attempts to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty and require to drink a lot of fluids.
Men also may lose weight as their bodies make use of muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels are high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products as well as legumes, beans and beans are excellent choices. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might consider limiting your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks are often packed with sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not well controlled with one medication, you might require a second medication. Your doctor will guide you to pick the best medication for your preferences and needs.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss, and come in both tablets and injections.