Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medications. It’s also crucial to be aware of the symptoms to be able to tell what’s wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting) that alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it effectively.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels can become too high over time. This can lead to issues in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It may also cause damage to the arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. The destruction can take place over several years or even decades before eventually resulting in a total lack of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar levels within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it can be used to create energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes must treat their condition with a healthy diet and exercise. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood glucose levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. However women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to develop complications, like heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women who suffer from diabetes. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood and your kidneys aren’t able to eliminate it effectively.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body will then try to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People who have diabetes often feel thirsty and need to drink large quantities of fluids, as much as four liters daily.
Men can also lose weight since their bodies use muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight, and lower risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole food items, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might also need to limit the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks are often high in sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are usually combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as physical activity and diet, to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed by one medication, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will assist you to determine the most appropriate medication to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the risk of developing complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and they are available in tablet and injection forms.