Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the disease. It is also crucial to know the symptoms, so you can tell whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting) that impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the 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 aren’t able to make enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to make it in a proper way.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels become too high in time. This can lead to issues with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It may also damage your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. This destruction can occur over months or even for years until it leads to the absence of insulin completely.
Type 1 diabetics need to take insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activities to keep their blood sugar in an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not producing insulin as 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 to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics need 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 condition that affects all races, ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. However, women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for diabetes in women. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to remove it effectively.
Diabetes in men Men: Symptoms
In diabetes the cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This usually happens because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body will then try to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and they have to drink lots of fluids.
Men may also lose weight as their bodies utilize muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a key element in managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, such as fruits vegetables, whole grains beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might also need to limit the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks are typically packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes-related medications 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 help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not well controlled with one medication, you might require a second medication. Your doctor will assist you select the right medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, provide cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablet and injection forms.