Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people each 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 is treatable and treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medications. It is also crucial to know the symptoms, so you can identify whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting), which impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or fails to use it properly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it work properly.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. It may also damage your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease which means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The destruction can take place over many months or even years and eventually lead to an absence of insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people with type 1 diabetes every day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which can then be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood glucose levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races and ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. Women are more at risk than males.
Women with diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women suffering from diabetes. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your bloodstream, and your kidneys cannot remove it.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
In diabetes the cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This causes elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids, up to 4 liters a day.
Men can be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, control your weight, and reduce heart disease risk factors.
You should include whole food items in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products and legumes are a good choice. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might also be able to reduce the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks typically contain a lot of sugar and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being controlled by one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor will assist you to select the best medicine for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, offer kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.