Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition which affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help to prevent or delay the development of the disease. It is also crucial to understand the symptoms so you can identify whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects how your body transforms food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t utilize it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels are too high in time. This can lead to problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also cause damage to your brain and heart arteries.
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 process can take months or years before eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes every day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of activity to maintain their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2, your body is not using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which is then used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
It is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to experience complications, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One of the first signs of women suffering from diabetes is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to eliminate it in a proper manner.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In the case of diabetes, cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is usually due to the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and they have to drink lots of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss as their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy instead of fat. This is because their blood sugar levels remain high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar, reduce your weight and heart disease risk factors.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, such as fruits vegetables, whole grains beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may want to limit your intake of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain a lot of sugar in them that can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes such as exercising and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t controlled on one medicine then a second medication could be added. Your doctor can help you pick the best medication for your preferences and needs.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, provide cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablets and injections.