Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease which affects millions of people every year. It occurs when the body is unable to make enough insulin or make use of the insulin it has effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and can be prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms to be able to tell whether something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It happens when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or fails to properly use it.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or aren’t able to utilize it correctly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels are too high in time. This can cause issues with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It may also cause damage to the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. This process can take several years or even decades before eventually resulting in an inability to produce insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar in the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it is used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, including heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for diabetes in women. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the bloodstream and your kidneys aren’t equipped to remove it correctly.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
In diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This results in elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and need to drink lots of fluids.
Men also may shed weight as their bodies utilize muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays 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 control blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are excellent choices. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not well controlled with one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor will help you choose the best medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablet and injection forms.