Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that is affecting millions of people each year. It occurs because the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or use the insulin that it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medications. It’s important to be aware of symptoms to know the signs of a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting), which impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to use it properly.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or aren’t able to use it effectively.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can lead to problems in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. It can also damage your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. This destruction can occur over months or even for years until it leads to the absence of insulin completely.
People with type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used as energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes with a healthy diet and exercise. They may also need to take medications to control their blood glucose levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are at greater risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to experience complications, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes), and vision loss.
One of the early signs of women with diabetes is a rise in thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t equipped to remove it properly.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
In diabetes it is when cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This results in elevated blood sugar levels. The body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty and require to drink plenty of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle to make 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 balanced diet for diabetes can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
You should include whole food items in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are excellent choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might also want to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks usually contain plenty of sugar in them and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in a normal range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes like eating habits and exercise to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed by one medication another medicine could be added. Your doctor will assist you determine the most appropriate medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the chance of developing complications. They also help with weight loss and come in both tablet and injection forms.