Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the disease. It is also essential to be aware of symptoms to determine whether something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or fails to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels increase as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It may also cause damage to 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 cells that produce insulin and destroys them. This process can take many years or months until it eventually leads to an inability to produce insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activities to maintain their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2, your body is not using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and eat a healthy diet. They also may need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are more at risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher likelihood of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the first signs of diabetes in women is a rise in thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to eliminate it properly.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
In diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is typically because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This leads to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
People who have diabetes often feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids, as much as four liters daily.
Men may also experience weight loss because their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy, instead of fat. This is because blood sugar levels remain high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole food items, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may want to limit your intake of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks often have a lot of sugar which can result in elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are usually combined with lifestyle changes, like exercise and diet to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t managed by one medication then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will assist you to select the most appropriate medicine for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the chance of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss, and they are available in tablets and injections.