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 it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medication. It is also important to know the symptoms, to determine if there is a problem 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 isn’t producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or their bodies cannot use it in a proper way.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels are too high over time. This can lead to problems in the feet, eyes and kidneys. It can also cause damage to your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease and means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. The destruction can take place over months or years before eventually resulting in the total absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics require insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar in the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers need to treat 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 all races, ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are more prone to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for diabetes in women. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your bloodstream and your kidneys are not able to filter it out.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This causes elevated blood sugar levels. The body then attempts to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and need to drink lots of fluids.
Men can also lose weight since their bodies use muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is an important part of managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight, and lower heart disease risk factors.
You should include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products, beans, and legumes are good choices. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks are often high in sugar and can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are usually combined with changes in lifestyle, like eating habits and physical activity to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels are not being managed well with one medication, you might need to take a different medication. Your doctor will help you pick the best medication to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.