Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It is caused because the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or make use of the insulin it has effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medication. It is important to understand the symptoms so you can identify whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to properly use it.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t 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, feet, and kidneys. It can also damage your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, meaning that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. This process can last for several months or even years before resulting in an absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes all day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar in the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body does not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
It is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are more at risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women suffering from diabetes. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in your blood and the kidneys aren’t able eliminate it in a proper manner.
The signs of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition where cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is usually due to the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men may also shed weight as their bodies utilize muscle for energy rather than fat. This is because their blood sugar levels remain high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight, and lower heart disease risk factors.
You should include whole food items in your diet, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are good choices. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may need to limit your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain lots of sugar which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in a normal range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being managed well with one medication, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will assist you select the right medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of complications. They also help with weight loss, and come in both tablet and injection forms.