Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can aid in preventing or reducing the development of the disease. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to determine what’s wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health issue that affects how your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin or cannot use it in a proper way.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels can become excessively high over time. This can cause issues with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It may 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 cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. This destruction can occur over months or even years before resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the 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 used to create energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition with a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood glucose levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
It is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. However women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to suffer from complications, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women who suffer from diabetes. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in your blood and the kidneys aren’t able get rid of it effectively.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is usually due to the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This results in high blood sugar levels. The body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
People who have diabetes often experience thirst and require to drink large amounts of fluids. It can be as much as four liters daily.
Men may also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, control your weight, and reduce heart disease risk factors.
Include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products and legumes are a good choice. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks are typically packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within normal levels. These medications are often combined with changes in lifestyle, like physical activity and diet, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not well controlled with one medicine, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to pick the best medication for your requirements and preferences.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and come in both tablet and injection forms.