Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it’s not able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the progression of the disease. It’s important to be aware of symptoms so you can tell whether something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting) that alters how your body converts food into energy. It happens when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or is unable to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to use it correctly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels are too high in time. This can cause problems with the eyes, feet and kidneys. It can also harm the blood vessels in your heart as well as the 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 and eventually lead to the total absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They also must monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels to keep 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 hormone that helps your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and follow a healthy diet. They also may need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races and ethnicities age, genders, and ages. However women are at a higher risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to experience complications, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for diabetes in women. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your bloodstream and kidneys are unable to eliminate it.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is usually because the pancreas ceases to produce enough 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 via urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently are thirsty and have to drink large quantities of fluids, up to four liters per day.
The men may also lose weight since their bodies utilize muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is an important part of managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole food items, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may be advised to limit your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks are usually high in sugar which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes like exercising and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being managed well with one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor can help you select the right medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, offer kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.