Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that is affecting millions of people each year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help to prevent or delay the disease. It’s important to be aware of symptoms to determine if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or isn’t able to use it correctly.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or their bodies don’t utilize it correctly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels are too high over time. This can cause issues with the eyes, feet and kidneys. It may also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. The destruction can take place over several months or even years and eventually lead to the absence of insulin completely.
Type 1 diabetics require insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which is then used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are more at risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One early warning sign of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your blood and kidneys are unable to eliminate it.
Men with diabetes Men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. The body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes typically are thirsty and have to drink large quantities of fluids, up to four liters per day.
The men may also lose weight because their bodies make use of muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help control blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors for heart diseases.
Include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products as well as legumes, beans and beans are a good choice. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may want to limit your intake of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks are typically packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might recommend diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in a normal range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being adequately controlled with one medication, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will guide you to choose the best medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss, and come in both tablets and injections.