Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help to prevent or delay the development of the disease. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to know the signs of a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting) that alters the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or is unable to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t use it properly.
The blood sugar levels rise as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It could also harm your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. The destruction can take place over months or even for years until it leads to an absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes every day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust the insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body does 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 where it can be used as energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition by eating a balanced diet and exercise. They also may need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races and ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. However women are at a higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience complications, like heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes), and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your blood and your kidneys are not able to eliminate it.
Diabetes in men Men: Symptoms
In diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood sugar levels. Your body will then try to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty and require to drink a lot of fluids.
The men may also lose weight since their bodies make use of muscle for energy rather than fat. This is because their blood sugar levels are high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help control blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products, beans, and legumes are great choices. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may consider limiting your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks are typically high in sugar and can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within normal levels. These drugs are often paired with lifestyle changes, like diet and physical activity, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled on one medicine it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will guide you to select the right medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like 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 complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and come in both tablets and injections.