Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions each year. It occurs when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or cannot utilize the insulin it produces effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the onset of the disease. It is also essential to know the symptoms, so you can tell whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting), which affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it work properly.
The blood sugar levels rise with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause issues with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It could also harm your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. The destruction can take place over many years or months, eventually leading to the total absence of insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people with type 1 diabetes every day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body may not make use of 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 must exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One early warning sign of women with diabetes is a rise in thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your bloodstream and kidneys can’t filter it out.
The signs of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes it is when cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is usually due to the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body will then try to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People who have diabetes often are thirsty and have to drink large quantities of fluids. This can be up to four liters a day.
Men may also experience weight loss because their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, reduce your weight and heart disease risk factors.
Your diet should include plenty of whole food items, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might want to limit your intake of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks often have high levels of sugar which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within the normal range. These medications are usually combined with lifestyle changes, such as eating habits and physical activity to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar is not being adequately controlled with one medicine, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will guide you to choose the best medicine for your preferences and needs.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of developing complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.