Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness which affects millions of people every year. It is caused when the body fails to produce enough insulin, or fails to utilize the insulin it produces effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the development of the disease. It’s also important to be aware of symptoms to know the signs of a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin or can’t use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin, or their bodies cannot use it correctly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems with the eyes, feet and kidneys. It could also harm your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. This process can take several years or even decades, eventually leading to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be utilized to generate energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes must treat their condition by eating a balanced diet and exercise. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnic groups, ages, and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One of the first signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your bloodstream and your kidneys are not able to filter it out.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes is a condition where cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This is usually due to the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This results in elevated blood sugar levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids, as much as 4 liters a day.
Men can also experience weight loss because their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight, and lower the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
You should include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are good choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may want to limit your intake of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks often have high levels of sugar that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes, such as eating habits and exercise to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being controlled by one medication, you might require a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to select the most appropriate medication to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and come in both tablet and injection forms.