Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions each year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the progression of the disease. It is also essential to know the symptoms, so you can determine whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting), which affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas stops making enough insulin, or fails to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it correctly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems in the feet, eyes and kidneys. It may also cause damage to the coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. This process can take months or even years, eventually leading to an inability to produce insulin.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust the levels of insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from 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 frequent complication of diabetes) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women suffering from diabetes. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to remove it in a proper manner.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This usually happens because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is because their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
Include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products and legumes are good choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might also be able to reduce the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks usually contain a lot of sugar in them which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may recommend diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in normal levels. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being adequately controlled with one medicine, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will help you pick the best medication for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the chance of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and they come in both tablets and injections.