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’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can aid in preventing or reducing the development of the disease. It is also essential to be aware of the symptoms to be able to tell the signs of a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or is unable to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or their bodies cannot use it effectively.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can cause issues with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. This process can take months or years and eventually lead to an inability to produce insulin.
Insulin is required by those who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it is utilized to generate energy.
People with type 2 diabetes must treat their condition by consuming a balanced diet and exercise. They may also need to take medication to regulate their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to suffer from complications, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One of the early signs of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your blood and kidneys can’t filter it out.
Men with diabetes Men: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes it is when cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This results in high blood sugar levels. Your body will then try to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty and require to drink plenty of fluids.
Men may be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight, and lower the risk of developing heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, including fruits, whole grains, vegetables, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks typically contain a lot of sugar which can result in elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically combined with changes in lifestyle, like diet and physical activity, to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar is not being controlled by one medicine, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to choose the best medicine for your specific needs and preferences.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the risk of complications. They also help with weight loss and are available in tablet and injection forms.