Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it isn’t able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and can be prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medications. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms so you can tell if something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or is unable to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin, or their bodies cannot use it correctly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also harm the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. The process of destruction can last for months or even years before eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body may not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used as energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes with a healthy diet and exercise. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races as well as ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. Women are more at risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher likelihood of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One of the first signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood, and the kidneys aren’t able eliminate it properly.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is usually because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. The body then attempts to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and they need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle for energy, instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels remain high for long periods.
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 weight and decrease risk factors for heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products and legumes are great choices. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might also want to limit the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks are often high in sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These medications are often combined with changes in lifestyle, like exercise and diet to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well managed on one medication then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will help you choose the best medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.