Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when the body fails to make enough insulin or use the insulin that it produces effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help prevent or delay the development of the disease. It is important to recognize the signs so you can identify if there is a problem 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 doesn’t produce enough insulin or isn’t able to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies are unable to use it effectively.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels can become too high in time. This can cause issues with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It may also cause damage to the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
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. The destruction can happen over several months or even years and eventually lead to a complete lack of insulin.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust 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 isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used for energy.
People with 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 glucose levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races and ethnicities and ages as well as genders. However, women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to suffer from complications, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One of the first signs of women with diabetes is a rise in thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood, and the kidneys aren’t able filter it out in a proper manner.
Men with diabetes: 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 insufficient insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. The body tries to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes frequently experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids, up to four liters a day.
Men may also shed weight as their bodies utilize muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help control blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods like fruits, whole grains, vegetables as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may also consider limiting the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks are typically packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, like eating habits and physical activity to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t controlled on one medicine then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will assist you to choose the most appropriate medication for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, offer kidney and cardiovascular benefits and lower the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.