Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease which affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help to prevent or delay the development of the disease. It is important to understand the symptoms to determine whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting), which alters the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or fails to use it correctly.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it work properly.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels are too high over time. This can lead to problems with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also damage 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 the pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. The destruction can happen over many months or even years, eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics must take insulin each day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body may not utilize insulin in the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers have to manage their condition with a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medication to regulate their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are at 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 loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood, and the kidneys aren’t able eliminate it in a proper manner.
Men with diabetes Men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This usually happens because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body will then attempt to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar, reduce your weight and risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole food items, including fruits vegetables, whole grains as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may want to limit your intake of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks are often packed with sugar and can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not well controlled with one medication, 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-like peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.