Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people each year. It happens when the body does not produce enough insulin, or fails to make use of the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help to prevent or delay the progression of the disease. It is also important to be aware of the signs, to determine whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or fails to properly use it.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin, or their bodies cannot use it correctly.
The blood sugar levels rise with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause issues in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also damage the coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease, meaning that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The process of destruction can last for many years or months and eventually lead to the total absence of insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust the insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used as energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition by eating a balanced diet and exercise. They might also need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects all races as well as ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. However women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in your blood and your kidneys aren’t able to get rid of it in a proper manner.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
In diabetes the cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids. It can be as much as four liters per day.
Men also may lose weight because their bodies utilize muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, reduce your weight and the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products, beans, and legumes are good choices. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may also be able to reduce the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks are often high in sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically combined with changes in lifestyle, like physical activity and diet, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being controlled by one medication, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will work with you to choose the most appropriate medicine for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and come in both tablets and injections.