Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when the body does not produce enough insulin or make use of the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the development of the disease. It’s important to be aware of symptoms to know if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting) that alters the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or fails to use it properly.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to make it in a proper way.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels are too high in time. This can cause problems in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It could also cause damage to arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. This destruction can happen over months or years until it eventually leads to the total absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics require insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar levels within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body may not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it can be used as energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition with a healthy diet and exercise. They may also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races, ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher likelihood of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One early warning sign of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your blood and kidneys can’t filter it out.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In diabetes the cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. The body tries to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes frequently are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids. It can be as much as four liters a day.
Men may also experience weight loss because their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is because their blood sugar levels are elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help control blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products as well as legumes, beans and beans are a good choice. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might want to limit your intake of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks usually contain high levels of sugar in them which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes, such as eating habits and exercise to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled on one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will assist you determine the most appropriate medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the chance of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and they come in both tablets and injections.