Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can aid in preventing or reducing the progression of the disease. It’s important to be aware of symptoms to know what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting), which impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies cannot use it correctly.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels become too high over time. This can lead to issues with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also damage the arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. The destruction can take place over months or even years before resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
Type 1 diabetics need to take insulin every day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar levels within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body may not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it is utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers must treat their condition by consuming a balanced diet and exercise. They may also have to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your blood and kidneys can’t eliminate it.
Men with diabetes Men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is typically because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body will then try to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and they need to drink lots of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss because their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy instead of fat. This is because their blood sugar levels are high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, such as fruits whole grains, vegetables beans, and low-fat dairy. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might also be able to reduce the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar in them which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes like eating habits and exercise to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not well controlled with one medicine, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will guide you to pick the best medication for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medicines, such as 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 decreasing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.