Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it isn’t able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It is also important to recognize the signs so you can identify whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body transforms food into energy. It happens when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or is unable to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin or aren’t able to use it effectively.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels get too high over time. This can cause problems with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart as well as the 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. This destruction can occur over many months or even years before resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their the insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to regulate their blood glucose levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience complications, like heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of diabetes in women is increased thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your blood and kidneys are unable to filter it out.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
Diabetes is a condition where cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and need to drink lots of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels are elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods, including fruits whole grains, vegetables beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may want to limit your intake of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks usually contain high levels of sugar, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled on one medicine then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will help you select the right medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications like glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose inhibitors that lower blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.