Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It happens because the body doesn’t make enough insulin or make use of the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the disease. It’s also important to be aware of the symptoms to be able to tell if something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or isn’t able to use it properly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. People with type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it properly.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels are too high in time. This can cause problems with the eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also damage 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 insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. This destruction can happen over many years or months until it eventually leads to the total absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics need to take insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activities to maintain their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also need to take medications to control their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. However women are at a higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women who suffer from diabetes. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the bloodstream and the kidneys aren’t able remove it in a proper manner.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes is a condition where cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is usually because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This results in high blood sugar levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss as their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce heart disease risk factors.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are excellent choices. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might need to limit your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks usually contain plenty of sugar in them, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These drugs are often paired with changes to your lifestyle, such as exercise and diet to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels are not well controlled with one medicine, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will help you select the right medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the risk of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss, and are available in tablets and injections.