Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness which affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it’s not able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the disease. It is also important to understand 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 affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it in a proper way.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels can become excessively high over time. This can cause problems with your feet, eyes and kidneys. It may also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition and means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The destruction can take place over months or even years, eventually leading to a total lack of insulin.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activities to maintain their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormonal substance that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which is then used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races as well as ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. However, women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women suffering from diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your blood and kidneys are unable to remove it.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
Diabetes is a condition where cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is usually because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood sugar levels. Your body then attempts to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes typically experience thirst and require to drink large amounts of fluids. It can be as much as four liters daily.
Men may also lose weight since their bodies rely on muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products, beans, and legumes are excellent choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might be advised to limit your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks are usually high in sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in normal levels. These drugs are often paired with lifestyle changes, such as eating habits and physical activity to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar is not being controlled by one medication, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will assist you to select the best medication for your requirements and preferences.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the chance of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.