Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions each year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can all help in preventing or delaying the development of the disease. It is also essential to be aware of the symptoms to determine if something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or aren’t able to use it properly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels can become too high over time. This can cause problems with the eyes, feet and kidneys. It may also damage your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease and means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. The process of destruction can last for months or years until it eventually leads to the complete absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They might also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
It is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One early warning sign of women with diabetes is increased thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your blood and your kidneys are not able to filter it out.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes, cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is typically because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body will then attempt to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes frequently are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids. This can be up to four liters daily.
Men may be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle to make energy, instead of 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 you control blood sugar, reduce your weight and risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products as well as legumes, beans and beans are excellent choices. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might also be able to reduce the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks often have a lot of sugar and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, such as diet and physical activity, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t managed on one medication, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will work with you to select the best medicine for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the chance of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.