Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medication. It is also crucial to know the symptoms, so you can tell whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels rise with time in both forms of diabetes. This can lead to problems in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. It can also damage your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease, meaning that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The destruction can take place over months or even years and eventually lead to a total lack of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of exercise to maintain their blood sugar within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are more at risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience complications, like heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes), and vision loss.
One of the first signs of women suffering from diabetes is increased thirst and the frequency of urination, which is 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 correctly.
The signs of diabetes in men
In diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body will then try to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People who have diabetes often feel thirsty and need to drink large quantities of fluids, as much as 4 liters a day.
Men may also experience weight loss as their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help control blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods, such as fruits, whole grains, vegetables beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may also consider limiting the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks usually contain a lot of sugar and can cause high 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 medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes like exercising and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled on one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will work with you to select the most appropriate medication to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.