Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and prevented or delayed with 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 transforms food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas stops making enough insulin, or fails to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it properly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels are excessively high over time. This can cause issues with the eyes, feet, and kidneys. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition which means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. This destruction can happen over several years or even decades until it eventually leads to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes all day. They must also monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the levels of insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers need to treat their diabetes by eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also have to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races and ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. However women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to develop complications, like heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes), and vision loss.
One of the first signs of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t equipped to filter it out in a proper manner.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
In diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood sugar levels. Your body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes frequently are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids, up to four liters daily.
Men also may shed weight as their bodies make use of muscles 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 manage blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
You should include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products 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 drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar in them, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being managed well with one medicine, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will guide you to choose the best medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, provide cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They also help with weight loss, and come in both tablets and injections.