Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms to be able to tell the signs of a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health issue that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or fails to use it properly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. People with type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it work properly.
The blood sugar levels increase with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause issues with the eyes, feet, and kidneys. It could also cause damage to coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. The destruction can take place over months or even years until it leads to an absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics need to take insulin every day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your 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 can then be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are more at risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to develop complications, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for diabetes in women. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to filter it out effectively.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition where cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then attempts to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and they have to drink lots of fluids.
Men can be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, including fruits whole grains, vegetables as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might need to limit your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks typically contain lots of sugar, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are usually combined with changes in lifestyle, like exercise and diet to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar is not well controlled with one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor will assist you to choose the best medicine for your specific needs 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 provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the chance of developing complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.