Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people each year. It happens when the body fails to produce enough insulin, or fails to make use of the insulin it has effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can aid in preventing or reducing the onset of the disease. It is also essential to understand the symptoms so you can determine whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting), which affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies are unable to use it effectively.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels are excessively high over time. This can cause issues with the kidneys, eyes 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 pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. This destruction can happen over several years or even decades and eventually lead to the total absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics must take insulin each day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activity levels to keep their blood sugar in a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be utilized to generate energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition by consuming a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races and ethnicities as well as ages and genders. However women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a greater chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your bloodstream and your kidneys are not able to remove it.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This is usually due to the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and they need to drink lots of fluids.
Men may also lose weight since their bodies make use of muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels control weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole food items, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might also need to limit the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks are typically packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes, such as exercising and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not well controlled with one medicine, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to select the most appropriate medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the chance of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss, and are available in tablet and injection forms.