Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people each year. It occurs because the body doesn’t make enough insulin or make use of the insulin it produces effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can aid in preventing or reducing the development of the disease. It is also important to recognize the signs to determine whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which impacts 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 a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or their bodies are unable to use it in a proper way.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels are excessively high over time. This can cause issues with your feet, eyes and kidneys. It may also cause damage to the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The destruction can take place over many months or even years until it leads to an absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by those who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of activity to maintain 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 hormone that helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to regulate their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. However women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One early warning sign of diabetes in women is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your bloodstream and your kidneys are not able to eliminate it.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes, cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. Your body will then attempt to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People who have diabetes often have a thirsty feeling and must drink large quantities of fluids, up to 4 liters a day.
Men also may lose weight because their bodies make use of muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
You should include whole food items in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products such as beans, legumes, and beans are excellent choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may want to limit your intake of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks usually contain plenty of sugar that can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in a normal range. These drugs are often paired with lifestyle changes, like eating habits and physical activity to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t managed by one medication, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will assist you to choose the best medication for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the chance of developing complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.