Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that is affecting millions of people each year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It’s also important to be aware of the symptoms to know what’s wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or fails to properly use it.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies are unable to use it properly.
The blood sugar levels increase with time in both forms of diabetes. This can lead to problems with 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 a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. The destruction can happen over months or even years and eventually lead to a complete lack of insulin.
Insulin is required 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 keep their blood sugar levels within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which can then be used to create energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes must treat their condition through a healthy diet and exercise. They may also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnic groups age, genders, and ages. However women are at higher risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One early warning sign of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t able to get rid of it in a proper manner.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes typically are thirsty and have to drink large quantities of fluids. This can be up to 4 liters a day.
Men also may lose weight as their bodies use muscles for energy instead of fat. This is because their blood sugar levels stay high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole food items, 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 also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks typically contain high levels of sugar, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within normal levels. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled on one medicine it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will guide you to determine the most appropriate medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the risk of developing complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.