Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions each year. It happens when the body does not produce enough insulin, or fails to make use of the insulin it produces effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It is also crucial to know the symptoms, to determine whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin or their bodies cannot use it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels are excessively high over time. This can cause issues in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also harm the arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. The destruction can take place over months or years before eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of activity to maintain their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not functioning as insulin should. 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 have to manage their condition through a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medication to control their blood glucose levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women suffering from diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your blood and kidneys are unable to eliminate it.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is typically because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and they need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet is a crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may consider limiting your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks often have a lot of sugar, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within a normal range. These medications are usually combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as diet and physical activity, to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being adequately controlled with one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor will help you select the right medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of complications. They are also useful for weight loss and are available in tablets and injections.