Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people every year. It happens because the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or use the insulin that it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and can be avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is important to recognize the signs so you can identify if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to use it properly.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin or aren’t able to use it effectively.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get too high over time. This can cause issues with the eyes, feet and kidneys. It could also harm your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder and means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. The destruction can happen over several months or even years before resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their the insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body may not utilize insulin in the way it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which is then utilized to generate energy.
People with type 2 diabetes must treat their condition by eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. They might also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races and ethnicities and ages as well as genders. However, women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One of the first signs 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 equipped to remove it effectively.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and need to drink lots of fluids.
Men may be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, control your weight, and reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods, such as fruits whole grains, vegetables beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may also be able to reduce the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks typically contain a lot of sugar which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These medications are typically combined with changes in lifestyle, like diet and physical activity, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being managed well with one medication, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to determine the best medication for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.