Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that is affecting millions of people each year. It is caused when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or utilize the insulin it has effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It is also crucial to be aware of the signs, to determine if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting) that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it correctly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels can become excessively high over time. This can cause problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It may also cause damage to the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease which means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. This destruction can happen over many years or months and eventually lead to an inability to produce insulin.
Type 1 diabetics must take insulin each day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar in an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which is then utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also need to take medications to control their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your blood and your kidneys are not able to remove it.
The signs of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is usually because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body will then try to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes frequently experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids. This can be up to 4 liters a day.
Men can also lose weight as their bodies rely on muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a crucial aspect of managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce heart disease risk factors.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, such as fruits whole grains, vegetables beans, and low-fat dairy. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may also consider limiting the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks often have lots of sugar and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are often combined with changes in lifestyle, like physical activity and diet, to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled on one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will work with you to choose the most appropriate medicine for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the chance of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.