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’s not able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can aid in preventing or reducing the disease. It is also crucial to know the symptoms, so you can tell whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or their bodies cannot use it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels get too high in time. This can cause issues with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also harm 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 the pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. This destruction can occur over many months or even years and eventually lead to the complete absence of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes must take insulin 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 a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which can then be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also have to take medication to regulate their blood glucose levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects all races and ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to develop complications, like heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your blood and kidneys are unable to eliminate it.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is usually due to the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
People who have diabetes often are thirsty and have to drink large quantities of fluids, as much as 4 liters a day.
Men may also lose weight because their bodies make use of muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight, and lower the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Your diet should include plenty of whole food items, including fruits, whole grains, vegetables beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might consider limiting your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks are often high in sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might recommend diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as diet and physical activity, to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar is not being controlled by one medicine, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will help you determine the most appropriate medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, offer kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss, and are available in tablets and injections.