Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It is important to know the symptoms, so you can determine whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t use it properly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can lead to problems in the feet, eyes and kidneys. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart and 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 destruction can happen over several years or even decades and eventually lead to the total absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar levels within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body may not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used for energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition with a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also 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, ethnicities, ages and genders. However women are at a higher risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One early warning sign of women with diabetes is a rise in thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood and your kidneys aren’t able to filter it out correctly.
Diabetes in men Men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is typically because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood sugar levels. Your body will then try to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and they need to drink lots of fluids.
Men may also lose weight because their bodies rely on muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels control weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products and legumes are a good choice. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may want to limit your intake of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks are typically high in sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes such as eating habits and exercise to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being managed well with one medication, you might require a second medication. Your doctor will guide you to pick the best medication for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the risk of developing complications. They also help with weight loss and come in both tablets and injections.