Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease which affects millions of people every year. It is caused when the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It’s also crucial to be aware of the symptoms to be able to tell what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or fails to use it properly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it in a proper way.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels become excessively high over time. This can cause problems with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It may also damage your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease, meaning that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The destruction can take place over months or even years until it eventually leads to a total lack of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics must take insulin each day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activities to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t make insulin as 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 to create energy.
People with type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition through a healthy diet and exercise. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races as well as ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. However women are at a higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk likelihood of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of women suffering from diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to filter it out in a proper manner.
The signs of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This is usually due to the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then attempts to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty and require to drink a lot of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is because blood sugar levels are high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage your weight, and lower the risk of developing heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may also want to limit the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks are usually packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes such as exercising and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being controlled by one medicine, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will assist you choose the best medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the risk of developing complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.