Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It happens when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or utilize the insulin it produces effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It’s also important to be aware of the symptoms to be able to tell what’s wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting), which alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can cause issues with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also harm the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, meaning that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. This destruction can happen over months or years and eventually lead to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used for energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes must treat their condition with a healthy diet and regular exercise. They might also need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects all races as well as ethnic groups age, genders, and ages. Women are at greater risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women with diabetes. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to filter it out properly.
The signs of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then attempts to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and they need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men can 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
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is an important part of managing your condition. It can help control blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might be advised to limit your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks usually contain lots of sugar which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within normal levels. These medications are often combined with changes in lifestyle, like exercise and diet to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t managed on one medication then a second medication could be added. Your doctor can help you choose the best medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the chance of developing complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.