Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help to prevent or delay the disease. It’s important to be aware of symptoms to know what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas stops making enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to make it work properly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get excessively high over time. This can cause issues with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also harm the coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder which means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. This destruction can happen over several years or even decades and eventually lead to a total lack of insulin.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their food, insulin and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose 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 hormone that helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used for energy.
People with type 2 diabetes must treat their condition by eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects all races, ethnic groups, ages, and genders. However women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a greater likelihood of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your bloodstream, and your kidneys cannot remove it.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body will then try to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large quantities of fluids, as much as four liters per day.
Men may also lose weight because their bodies rely on muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy 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 that can lead to heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, including fruits vegetables, whole grains as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might also be able to reduce the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks often have lots of sugar that can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in the normal range. These drugs are often paired with lifestyle changes, like exercise and diet to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being controlled by one medicine, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will guide you to choose the best medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.