Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it’s not able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help prevent or delay the development of the disease. It’s also important to be aware of the symptoms so you can tell the signs of a problem and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects the way your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t utilize it correctly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels are too high in time. This can lead to problems with your feet, eyes and kidneys. It can also cause damage to your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. The destruction can happen over months or even years, eventually resulting in an absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of exercise to maintain their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormonal substance that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it is used as energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes by eating a balanced diet and exercise. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
It is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to develop complications, like heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your blood and kidneys are unable to remove it.
Men with diabetes Men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. The body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
People who have diabetes often are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids, as much as four liters daily.
Men also may lose weight since their bodies use muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes is a crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods, including fruits vegetables, whole grains beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may also want to limit the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks typically contain high levels of sugar in them, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are often combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as exercise and diet to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t controlled on one medicine it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will work with you to pick the best medicine for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose inhibitors that lower blood sugar levels, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and lower the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.