Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease which affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the progression of the disease. It is important to understand the symptoms so you can identify whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects how your body turns food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin or can’t use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin or their bodies are unable to use it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels can become too high over time. This can cause problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It could also cause damage to coronary arteries 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 occur over several months or even years until it leads to the complete absence of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They also need to monitor 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 is not functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which is then utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also have to take medications to control their blood glucose levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races and ethnicities, ages, and genders. Women are at greater risk than males.
Women with diabetes are more prone to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of women with diabetes is a higher thirst and increased the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your blood, and your kidneys cannot remove it.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is typically because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This results in elevated blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes frequently experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids, as much as 4 liters a day.
Men also may shed weight as their bodies use muscle for energy rather than fat. This is because their blood sugar levels are high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a vital aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight, and lower heart disease risk factors.
You should include whole food items in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products and legumes are excellent choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might also need to limit the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks often have a lot of sugar, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes like exercising and diet to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being controlled by one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to select the best medication to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.