Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition which affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it’s not able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medications. It is important to know 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 impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it in a proper way.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels are too high in time. This can lead to problems with the eyes, feet and kidneys. It can also harm the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition and means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. The destruction can take place over months or even years until it eventually leads to the total absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics need to take insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust the levels of insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which can then be utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also need to take medications to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to develop complications, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t equipped to filter it out properly.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
Diabetes is a condition where cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is typically because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty and require to drink plenty of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss because their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help manage blood sugar levels control weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, including fruits vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might also want to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks are typically packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes like eating habits and exercise to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being managed well with one medication, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will assist you to pick the best medicine for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.