Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people each year. It occurs when the body fails to make enough insulin or make use of the insulin it has effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the onset of the disease. It is also crucial to understand the symptoms so you can determine whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas stops making enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies cannot use it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can lead to problems with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It may also cause damage to the coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. This process can take months or years, eventually leading to an inability to produce insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activities to keep their blood sugar in the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and eat a healthy diet. They also may need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
It is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. However women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One early warning sign of women with diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in your blood and the kidneys aren’t able get rid of it correctly.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. Your body then attempts to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes frequently are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids, as much as four liters daily.
Men may also experience weight loss because their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are a good choice. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks often have high levels of sugar, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in a normal range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes such as eating habits and exercise to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being managed well with one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to select the best medicine for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They also help with weight loss, and come in both tablets and injections.